Detection and treatment of breast disease

ABSTRACT

An isolated chemokine is disclosed. The isolated chemokine is expressed preferentially in breast tissue or can be detected in breast milk. It includes from about 100 to about 132 amino acids, has a deduced molecular weight of from about 10 to about 16 kDa, and has a deduced isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7. Antibodies and binding portions thereof recognizing the subject chemokine and peptides which include the antigenic portions of the subject chemokines are described. DNA molecules which encode the subject chemokines as well as nucleic acid molecules which, under stringent conditions, hybridize to nucleic acid molecules encoding the subject chemokines or to a complement thereof are also disclosed. The chemokines, peptides, antibodies and binding portions thereof, and nucleic acid molecules can be used to detect and treat breast disease, such as inflammations, infections, mastitis, benign cystitis, benign hyperplasias, cancer and other malignancies as well as other pathological states of the mammary gland.

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/834,794, filed Apr. 13, 2001, which is adivisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/146,580,filed Sep. 3, 1998, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/071,899, filed Jan. 20, 1998, and U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/092,155, filed Jul. 9, 1998,which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the detection and treatment of breastdisease.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Breast cancer is one of the largest classes of malignant disease inwomen. However, breast cancer presents inherent difficulties in regardto the ease with which it is detected and diagnosed. This is in contrastto detection of some other common cancers, including skin and cervicalcancers, the latter of which is based on cytomorphologic screeningtechniques.

Early detection of breast cancer represents a compelling goal inoncology. Although techniques such as computerized tomography,mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging have greatly improved tumorsurveillance over the past decade, there still remains a need forserologic and other blood-based assays.

Serologic assays are easily performed, inexpensive, andanalytically-sensitive and can be serially run over time with relativeease. The essence of breast cancer screening, using tumor markerdetection, is to efficiently identify a group of higher-risk individualsfrom within a large population. Thereafter, confirmatory testing isimplemented to establish a diagnosis of malignancy.

There are several classifications of tumor markers possible, based uponthe structure or biological function of the marker. Tumor markerclassifications include tissue specific antigens (e.g., PSA, NSE, PAP,calcitonin, HCG), major histocompatibility complex (“MHC”) antigens,viral antigens (e.g., HTLV-I gag protein), oncogene products (e.g.,c-HER-2/Neu), oncofetal markers (e.g., CEA, AFP), hormones (e.g.,thyroid hormones), enzymes (e.g., telomerase, galactosyltransferase),and altered glycoproteins/glycolipids (e.g., polymorphic epithelialmucins). It should be noted that these classification schemes areimprecise and contain redundancies. For example, calcitonin is animportant serological marker for medullary carcinoma of the thyroid andmay be classified not only as a hormone but also as a tissue specificprotein of the thyroid. Likewise, PSA, HCG, thyroid hormones, PAP, andNSE are tissue specific proteins and also exhibit enzymatic or hormonalactivities. Generally, tumor markers providing high clinical utilityreside in the broadly defined tissue specific class. This class of tumormarkers contains enzymes, isoenzymes, hormones, growth factors, andother molecules with biologic activity.

The importance of a tumor marker's being tissue specific is illustratedby one of the best known tumor antigens, carcinoembryonic antigen(“CEA”). When first discovered, CEA was thought to be specific tocancers of the digestive system. However, CEA has since been detected innormal adults as well as in patients with benign liver disease, such asalcoholic hepatitis or biliary obstruction. Because of the overall lackof specificity and sensitivity, there being no threshold difference inCEA levels that serves to separate benign from malignant conditions, CEAcannot be used in a general diagnostic test. Instead, it is principallyused to monitor a patient's response to treatment.

To be useful in serologic assays, a tumor marker should be one that isreleased into the bloodstream as a circulating marker. Circulatingantigens are now known to exist in breast cancer. Breast tissue markers,such as casein (Franchimont et al., Cancer, 39:2806-2812 (1977)) andα-lactalbumin (Kleinberg et al., Science, 190:276-278 (1975)) andpurported cancer markers, such as glycosyl transferases (Ip et al.,Cancer Res., 38:723-728 (1978) and Dao et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst.,65:529-534 (1980)), glycolipids (Kloppel et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.USA, 74:3011-3013 (1977)), and phospholipids (Skipski et al., Proc. Soc.Exp. Biol. Med., 136:1261-1264 (1971)) have all been used in variousdiagnostic techniques for breast cancer but have not gained widespreadacceptance as breast cancer markers. More recently, circulating humanmammary epithelial antigens have been proposed as specific markers forbreast cancer (Ceriani et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 79:5420-5424(1982)). Burchell et al., Int. J. Cancer, 34:763-768 (1984) describesmonoclonal antibodies which detect high molecular weight mucin-likeantigens elevated in patient serum. Hayes, J. Clin. Invest.,75:1671-1678 (1985) also describes a monoclonal antibody that recognizesa high molecular weight mammary epithelial antigen present in elevatedamounts in the plasma of breast cancer patients. See also Papsidero etal., Cancer Res., 44:4653-4657 (1984) and Taylor-Papadimitriou et al.,Int. J. Cancer., 28:17-28 (1981). Other breast tissue specific proteinsor markers include alpha, beta, and kappa caseins, alpha-lactalbumin,lactoferrin, and selected epithelial membrane antigens. These aredescribed in Cohen et al., Cancer, 60:1294-1298 (1987); Bartkova, Eur.J. Cancer Clin. Oncol., 23:1557-1563 (1987); Weir et al., Cancer Detect.Prev., 4:193-204 (1981); de Almeida et al., Breast Cancer Res. Treat.,21:201-210 (1992); Skilton et al., Tumor Biol., 11:20-38 (1990); Earl etal., Cancer Res., 49:6070-6076 (1989); Barry et al., Amer. J. Clin.Path., 82:582-585 (1984); and Watson et al., Cancer Res., 56:860-865(1996). None of these previously described antigens has been used as abasis for a widely accepted breast cancer clinical assay.

There have also been several attempts to develop improved methods ofbreast cancer detection and diagnosis based on oncogene mutations, geneamplification, and loss of heterozygosity in invasive breast cancer.These methods have not gained wide acceptance.

Despite the use of mammography and the development of some breast tissuespecific markers, there still remains a need for simple and rapidmethods for detecting breast cancer. The present invention is directedto meeting this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention relates to an isolated chemokinethat is preferentially expressed in breast tissue or which can bedetected in breast milk. The isolated chemokine includes about fromabout 100 to about 132 amino acids, has a deduced molecular weight offrom about 10 to about 16 kDa, and has a deduced isoionic point of fromabout pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7.

The present invention also relates to peptides having an amino acidsequence corresponding to an antigenic portion of the subject chemokine,to antibodies which recognize this chemokine, and to isolated nucleicacid molecules which encode this chemokine.

The present invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid moleculewhich, under stringent conditions, hybridizes to a nucleic acid moleculeencoding a chemokine of the present invention or to a complementthereof.

In another aspect thereof, the present invention relates to an isolatednucleic acid molecule which encodes for a chemokine of the presentinvention.

The present invention also relates to a method for detecting breastdisease in a patient. A sample of tissue or body fluid from the patientis contacted with a nucleic acid primer which, under stringentconditions, hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a chemokineof the present invention or to a complement thereof. The sample oftissue or body fluid from the patient in contact with the nucleic acidprimer is treated under conditions effective to amplify breast tissuespecific nucleic acid molecules. The method further includes detectingthe breast tissue specific nucleic acid molecules.

The present invention also relates to another method of detecting breastdisease in a patient. In this method, a sample of tissue or body fluidfrom the patient is contacted with a nucleic acid probe under conditionseffective to permit formation of a hybridization complex between theprobe and breast tissue specific nucleic acid molecules. The nucleicacid probe is one which, under stringent conditions, hybridizes to anucleic acid molecule encoding a chemokine of the present invention orto a complement thereof. The method further includes detecting thehybridization complex.

The present invention also relates to yet another method of detectingbreast disease in a patient. The method includes providing an antibodyor binding portion thereof which recognizes a chemokine of the presentinvention. The antibody or binding portion thereof is contacted with aliquid or tissue sample from the patient under conditions effective topermit binding of the antibody or binding portion thereof to thechemokine in the liquid or tissue sample. The method further includesdetecting presence of antibody or binding portion thereof bound to thechemokine in the liquid or tissue sample.

The present invention, in another aspect thereof, relates to a method oftreating breast disease in a patient. The method includes administeringto the patient an effective amount of an antibody or binding portionthereof which recognizes a chemokine of the present invention.

The present invention also relates to another method of treating breastdisease in a patient. The method includes administering to the patientan effective amount of a peptide which binds to a cellular receptor fora chemokine of the present invention.

The present invention also relates to a method of vaccinating a patientagainst breast disease. The method includes administering to the patientan effective amount of an antigenic portion of a chemokine of thepresent invention.

The chemokines, peptides, antibodies, and nucleic acid molecules of thepresent invention are useful in the early detection of variouspathological states of the mammary gland, such as inflammations,infections, benign hyperplasias, and malignancies. In particular, theycan be used in the early detection of breast cancer as well as formonitoring the presence or absence of metastatic breast cancer cells ina patient's tissues and fluids, such as blood, lymph nodes, bone marrow,and other sites of disease dissemination. They can also be used to stagepatients with breast cancer and to assess the effects of conventionalbreast cancer therapies. Furthermore, the chemokines, peptides, andantibodies of the present invention can be used to treat or preventbreast disease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGURE 1 is a series of aligned amino acid sequences of various membersof the CC chemokine family and the amino acid sequence of a chemokine ofthe present invention. Members of the CC chemokine family that are shownare HTECK (SEQ ID NO:20), LARC (SEQ ID NO:21), TARC (SEQ ID NO:22), 1309(SEQ ID NO:23), MCP-2 (SEQ ID NO:24), MCP-4 (SEQ ID NO:25), Eotaxin (SEQID NO:26), MCP-3 (SEQ ID NO:27), MCP-1 (SEQ ID NO:28), RANTES (SEQ IDNO:29), HCC-1 (SEQ ID NO:30), MIP-1B (SEQ ID NO:31), LB78B (SEQ IDNO:32), LD78A (SEQ ID NO:33), and PARC (SEQ ID NO:34).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an isolated chemokine that ispreferentially expressed in breast tissue or that is detectable inbreast milk. Chemokine, as used herein, is meant to include proteinswhich are proinflammatory cytokines that are chemoattractants andactivators of specific types of leukocytes. Further details with respectto chemokine activity can be found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.5,688,927 to Godiska et al. and Baggiolini et al., Advances inImmunology, 55:97-179 (1994), which are hereby incorporated by referenceThe chemokine may include a leader sequence, typically about 22 aminoacids in length, or, alternatively, the leader sequence can be cleavedfrom the chemokine. The isolated chemokine preferably includes fromabout 100 to 132 amino acids, more preferably, from about 105 to about127 amino acids, and, most preferably, about 105 or 127 amino acids. Thededuced molecular weight of the chemokine of the present invention ispreferably from about 10 to about 16 kDa, more preferably, from about 12kDa to about 14 kDa, and preferably has a deduced isoionic point of fromabout pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7, more preferably about 10.4.

As indicated above, the chemokine of the present invention ispreferentially expressed in breast tissue. That is, more chemokine ofthe present invention is expressed in breast tissue than in any othertissue in the body. More preferably, the chemokine of the presentinvention is expressed substantially exclusively or exclusively inbreast tissue. That is, substantially all of the chemokine of thepresent invention is expressed in breast tissue. In addition oralternatively to being preferentially expressed in breast tissue, thechemokine of the present invention can be detected in breast milk, suchas by using conventional protein detection methods.

One particularly preferred chemokine of the present invention has anamino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1, as follows:MQQRGLAIVALAVCAALHASEAILPIASSCCTEVSHHISRRLLERVNMCRIQRADGDCDLAAVILHVKRXRICVSPHNHTVKQWMKVQAAXKNGKGNVCHRKKHHGKRNSNRAHQGKHETYGHKTPY

As indicated above, chemokine, as used herein, can include a leadersequence, or, alternatively, all or part of the leader sequence may beremoved. In SEQ ID NO: 1, approximately the first 22 amino acidsrepresents the leader sequence. Thus, chemokines of the presentinvention can also have an amino acid sequence corresponding to, forexample, SEQ ID NO: 2, as follows:LPIASSCCTEVSHHISRRLLERVNMCRIQRADGDCDLAAVILHVKRXRICVSPHNHTVKQWMKVQAAXKNGKGNVCHRKKHHGKRNSNRAHQGKHETYGH KTPY

The chemokine of the present invention is isolated (i.e., substantiallyfree of the biological materials with which it is naturally found). Inmany applications, it is desirable that the chemokine of the presentinvention be purified (i.e., substantially free of all other biologicalmaterials). The chemokines of the present invention can be in monomerform, or they can be associated with other chemokines, such as in theform of dimers.

The present invention also relates to peptides which include an aminoacid sequence corresponding to an antigenic portion of a chemokine ofthe present invention. In general, the size of the peptide antigen isnot believed to be particularly crucial, so long as it is at least largeenough to carry the antigenic core sequence or sequences. Generally, thesmallest useful antigenic sequence is on the order or about six aminoacids in length. However, the size of the antigen may be larger wheredesired, so long as it contains a basic antigenic core sequence.

Accordingly, through the use of computerized peptide sequence analysisprogram (DNAStar Software, DNAStar, Inc., Madison, Wis.), the portionsof the peptide can be identified that are believed to constituteantigenic sequences which include particular epitopes of the protein.More particularly, antigenic portions of a chemokine of the presentinvention can be identified by hydropathy analysis, such as thatdescribed in Kyte et al., “A Simple Method for Displaying theHydropathic Character of a Protein,” J. Mol. Biol., 157:105-132 (1982),which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Synthesis of peptides which include an antigenic epitope within theirsequence, are readily achieved using conventional synthetic techniquessuch as the solid phase method (e.g., through the use of commerciallyavailable peptide synthesizer such as an Applied Biosystems Model 430APeptide Synthesizer). Peptides synthesized in this manner may then bealiquoted in predetermined amounts and stored in conventional manners,such as in aqueous solutions or, even more preferably, in a powder orlyophilized state pending use.

Particularly preferred peptides of the present invention are those whichinclude amino acid sequences corresponding to TEVSHHISRRLLERVNMC (SEQ IDNO: 3), KNGKGNVCHRKKHHGK (SEQ ID NO: 4), and NSNRAHQGKHETYGHKTPY (SEQ IDNO: 5).

As described below, the chemokines or peptides of the present inventioncan be used to raise antibodies that recognize chemokines of the presentinvention. The chemokines and peptides of the present invention can alsobe administered alone or in combination with apharmaceutically-acceptable carrier to patients, as a vaccine, forpreventing breast disease.

The present invention also relates to antibodies and binding portionsthereof which recognize a chemokine according to the present invention.Preferably, the antibody or binding portion thereof also recognizesparticular antigenic portions of the subject chemokine, such as peptideshaving amino acid sequences corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4,and SEQ ID NO: 5.

The antibodies and binding portions thereof can be used to detect breastdisease in a patient. As used herein, breast disease is meant to includevarious pathological states of the mammary gland, such as inflammations,infections, mastitis, benign cystitis, benign hyperplasias, and cancerand other malignancies. Detection of breast disease involves providingan antibody or binding portion thereof which recognizes a chemokine ofthe present invention. The antibody or binding portion thereof iscontacted with a tissue or fluid sample from the patient underconditions effective to permit binding of the antibody or bindingportion thereof to chemokine that is present in the tissue or fluidsample to form a complex. The presence of a chemokine of the presentinvention in the tissue or fluid sample is detected by detecting thecomplex.

Such contacting can be carried out in vivo in a living patient. In thisembodiment of the present invention, the antibody or binding portionthereof is administered (e.g., orally or parenterally) to the patientunder conditions effective to permit binding of the antibody or bindingportion thereof to the chemokine of the present invention in the in vivotissue or fluid sample. Using this method, patients can be screened forbreast diseases associated with the presence of chemokines of thepresent invention. Alternatively, the method can be used to identify therecurrence of such diseases, particularly when the disease is localizedin a particular biological material of the patient. For example,recurrence of breast disease in a patient's breast tissue can bedetected by administering a short range radiolabeled antibody to thepatient and then imaging the breast using conventional radiation imagingtechniques to detect the presence of the radiolabel and, therefore, aconcentration of a chemokine of the present invention, within thebreast. Similarly, by imaging other portions of the patient's body(e.g., lymph nodes), the method can be used to determine whether breastdisease (e.g., breast cancer) has spread to other tissues of the body.

Alternatively, the contacting step can be carried out in vitro. Forexample, the tissue or fluid sample can be a tissue specimen (e.g.,cells or tissue sections, preferably preserved by freezing or embeddingin paraffin, from the breast, lymph nodes, bone marrow, or other sitesof disease dissemination). Alternatively, the tissue or fluid sample canbe a fluid specimen (e.g., urine, serum, lymph fluid, and anticoagulatedwhole blood cells) removed from the patient.

The antibodies and binding portions thereof of the present invention canalso be used to treat breast disease, for example, by ablating orkilling diseased breast tissue cells. The process involves providing anantibody or binding portions thereof which recognizes a chemokine of thepresent invention. The antibody or binding portions thereof can be usedalone or can be bound to a substance effective to kill cells that are inproximity to an elevated level of a chemokine of the present inventionor that bound to the chemokine. In this method, these antibodies orbinding portions thereof are contacted with the cells under conditionseffective to permit killing or ablating of the cells. In its preferredform, such contacting is carried out in a living patient byadministering (e.g., orally or parenterally) the antibody or bindingportion thereof to the patient under conditions effective to permitlocalization of the antibody or binding portion thereof to tissueshaving elevated concentrations of the subject chemokine and killing orablating of cells within such tissues.

Antibodies and binding portions thereof suitable for either killing,ablating, or detecting diseased breast tissue cells include antibodies,such as monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies. In addition, antibodyfragments, half-antibodies, hybrid derivatives, and other molecularconstructs may be utilized. These antibodies and binding portionsrecognize and bind to chemokines of the present invention, which areassociated with breast disease.

Monoclonal antibody production may be effected by techniques which arewell-known in the art. Basically, the process involves first obtainingimmune cells (lymphocytes) from the spleen of a mammal (e.g., mouse)which has been previously immunized with the antigen of interest eitherin vivo or in vitro. The antibody-secreting lymphocytes are then fusedwith (mouse) myeloma cells or transformed cells, which are capable ofreplicating indefinitely in cell culture, thereby producing an immortal,immunoglobulin-secreting cell line. The resulting fused cells, orhybridomas, are cultured, and the resulting colonies screened for theproduction of the desired monoclonal antibodies. Colonies producing suchantibodies are cloned and grown either in vivo or in vitro to producelarge quantities of antibody. A description of the theoretical basis andpractical methodology of fusing such cells is set forth in Kohler andMilstein, Nature 256:495 (1975), which is hereby incorporated byreference.

Mammalian lymphocytes are immunized by in vivo immunization of theanimal (e.g., a mouse) with the protein or polypeptide of the presentinvention. Such immunizations are repeated as necessary at intervals ofup to several weeks to obtain a sufficient titer of antibodies.Following the last antigen boost, the animals are sacrificed and spleencells removed.

Fusion with mammalian myeloma cells or other fusion partners capable ofreplicating indefinitely in cell culture is effected by standard andwell-known techniques, for example, by using polyethylene glycol (“PEG”)or other fusing agents (see Milstein and Kohler, Eur. J. Immunol. 6:511(1976), which is hereby incorporated by reference). This immortal cellline, which is preferably murine, but may also be derived from cells ofother mammalian species, including but not limited to rats and humans,is selected to be deficient in enzymes necessary for the utilization ofcertain nutrients, to be capable of rapid growth, and to have goodfusion capability. Many such cell lines are known to those skilled inthe art, and others are regularly described.

Procedures for raising polyclonal antibodies are also well known.Typically, such antibodies can be raised by administering the protein orpolypeptide of the present invention subcutaneously to New Zealand whiterabbits which have first been bled to obtain pre-immune serum. Theantigens can be injected at a total volume of 100 μl per site at sixdifferent sites. Each injected material will contain adjuvants with orwithout pulverized acrylamide gel containing the protein or polypeptideafter SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The rabbits are then bledtwo weeks after the first injection and periodically boosted with thesame antigen three times every six weeks. A sample of serum is thencollected 10 days after each boost. Polyclonal antibodies are thenrecovered from the serum by affinity chromatography using thecorresponding antigen to capture the antibody. This and other proceduresfor raising polyclonal antibodies are disclosed in E. Harlow, et. al.,editors, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual (1988), which is herebyincorporated by reference.

In addition to utilizing whole antibodies, the processes of the presentinvention encompass use of binding portions of such antibodies. Suchbinding portions include Fab fragments, F(ab′)₂ fragments, and Fvfragments. These antibody fragments can be made by conventionalprocedures, such as proteolytic fragmentation procedures, as describedin Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice, pp. 98-118,New York:Academic Press (1983), which is hereby incorporated byreference.

It is particularly preferred to use antibodies which recognize achemokine having an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1 ora peptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 3,SEQ ID NO: 4, or SEQ ID NO: 5. These antibodies can be used alone or asa component in a mixture with other antibodies or other biologicalagents to treat or image tissues containing a mammary associatedchemokine of the present invention.

Regardless of whether the antibodies or binding portions thereof areused for treatment or in vivo detection, they can be administeredorally, parenterally, subcutaneously, intravenously, intramuscularly,intraperitoneally, by intranasal instillation, by intracavitary orintravesical instillation, intraocularly, intraarterially,intralesionally, or by application to mucous membranes, such as, that ofthe nose, throat, and bronchial tubes. They may be administered alone orwith pharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable carriers,excipients, or stabilizers, and can be in solid or liquid form such as,tablets, capsules, powders, solutions, suspensions, or emulsions.

The solid unit dosage forms can be of the conventional type. The solidform can be a capsule, such as an ordinary gelatin type containing theantibodies or binding portions thereof of the present invention and acarrier, for example, lubricants and inert fillers such as, lactose,sucrose, or cornstarch. In another embodiment, these compounds aretableted with conventional tablet bases such as lactose, sucrose, orcornstarch in combination with binders like acacia, cornstarch, orgelatin, disintegrating agents, such as cornstarch, potato starch, oralginic acid, and a lubricant, like stearic acid or magnesium stearate.

The antibody or binding portion thereof of the present invention mayalso be administered in injectable dosages by solution or suspension ofthese materials in a physiologically acceptable diluent with apharmaceutical carrier. Such carriers include sterile liquids, such aswater and oils, with or without the addition of a surfactant and otherpharmaceutically and physiologically acceptable carrier, includingadjuvants, excipients or stabilizers. Illustrative oils are those ofpetroleum, animal, vegetable, or synthetic origin, for example, peanutoil, soybean oil, or mineral oil. In general, water, saline, aqueousdextrose and related sugar solution, and glycols, such as propyleneglycol or polyethylene glycol, are preferred liquid carriers,particularly for injectable solutions.

For use as aerosols, the antibody or binding portion thereof of thepresent invention in solution or suspension may be packaged in apressurized aerosol container together with suitable propellants, forexample, hydrocarbon propellants like propane, butane, or isobutane withconventional adjuvants. The materials of the present invention also maybe administered in a non-pressurized form such as in a nebulizer oratomizer.

As indicated above, the antibody or binding portion thereof may be usedto detect, in vivo, breast disease in a patient. This is preferablyachieved by labeling the antibody or binding portion thereof,administering the labeled antibody or binding portion thereof to thepatient, and then imaging the patient.

Examples of labels useful for diagnostic imaging in accordance with thepresent invention are radiolabels such as ¹³¹I, ¹¹¹In, ¹²³I, ⁹⁹mTc, ³²P,¹²⁵I, ³H, ¹⁴C, and ¹⁸⁸Rh, fluorescent labels such as fluorescein andrhodamine, nuclear magnetic resonance active labels, positron emittingisotopes detectable by a positron emission tomography (“PET”) scanner,chemiluminescers such as luciferin, and enzymatic markers such asperoxidase or phosphatase. Short-range radiation emitters, such asisotopes detectable by short-range detector probes can also be employed.The antibody or binding portion thereof can be labeled with suchreagents using techniques known in the art. For example, see Wensel andMeares, Radioimmunoimaging and Radioimmunotherapy, New York:Elsevier(1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference, for techniquesrelating to the radiolabeling of antibodies. See also, Colcher et al.,“Use of Monoclonal Antibodies as Radiopharmaceuticals for theLocalization of Human Carcinoma Xenografts in Athymic Mice”, Meth.Enzmmol. 121:802-816 (1986), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Detecting the presence of a complex between an antibody or bindingportion thereof and a chemokine of the present invention can be carriedout by any conventional method for detecting antigen-antibody reactions,examples of which can be found, e.g., in Klein, Immunology, NewYork:John Wiley & Sons, pp. 394-407 (1982), which is hereby incorporatedby reference. For in vitro detection of breast disease, the formation ofa complex between the antibody and chemokine present in the tissue offluid sample can be detected by enzyme linked assays, such as ELISAassays. Briefly, the antibody/chemokine complex is contacted with asecond antibody which recognizes a portion of the antibody that iscomplexed with the chemokine. Generally, the second antibody is labeledso that its presence (and, thus, the presence of an anntibody/chemokinecomplex) can be detected. Alternatively, the antibody or binding portionthereof can be bound to a label effective to permit detection of thechemokine upon binding of the antibody or binding portion thereof to thechemokine. Suitable labels include, fluorophores, chromophores,radiolabels, and the like.

For example, a radiolabeled antibody or binding portion thereof of thisinvention can be used for in vitro diagnostic tests. The specificactivity of a tagged antibody or binding portion thereof depends uponthe half-life and isotopic purity of the radioactive label and how thelabel is incorporated into the antibody or its binding portion. Table 1lists several commonly-used isotopes, their specific activities andhalf-lives. In immunoassay tests, the higher the specific activity, ingeneral, the better the sensitivity. TABLE 1 Specific Activity of PureIsotope Isotope (Curies/mole) Half-Life ¹⁴C 6.25 × 10¹  5720 years ³H2.01 × 10⁴  12.5 years ³⁵S 1.50 × 10⁶   87 days ¹²⁵I 2.18 × 10⁶   60days ³²P 3.16 × 10⁶  14.3 days ¹³¹I 1.62 × 10⁷  8.1 days

Procedures for labeling antibodies and binding portions thereof with theradioactive isotopes listed in Table 1 are generally known in the art.Tritium labeling procedures are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,438 toZech, which is hereby incorporated by reference. Iodinating, tritiumlabeling, and ³⁵S labeling procedures especially adapted for murinemonoclonal antibodies are described in Goding, Monoclonal Antibodies:Principles and Practice, pp. 124-126, New York:Academic Press (1983) andthe references cited therein, which are hereby incorporated byreference. Other procedures for iodinating antibodies or bindingportions thereof are described in Hunter et al., Nature 144:945 (1962),David et al., Biochemistry 13:1014-1021 (1974), U.S. Pat. No. 3,867,517to Ling, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110 to David et al., which are herebyincorporated by reference. Radiolabeling elements which are useful inimaging include ¹²³I, ¹³¹I, ¹¹¹In, and ^(99m)Tc, for example. Proceduresfor iodinating antibodies or binding portions thereof are described inGreenwood et al., Biochem. J. 89:114-123 (1963); Marchalonis, Biochem.J. 113:299-305 (1969); and Morrison et al., Immunochemistry 289-297(1971), which are hereby incorporated by reference. Procedures for^(99m)Tc-labeling are described by Rhodes et al. in Burchiel et al.,eds., Tumor Imaging: The Radioimmunochemical Detection of Cancer, NewYork:Masson 111-123 (1982) and the references cited therein, which arehereby incorporated by reference. Procedures suitable for ¹¹¹In-labeling antibodies or binding portions thereof are described byHnatowich et al., J. Immul. Methods 65:147-157 (1983), Hnatowich et al.,J. Applied Radiation 35:554-557 (1984), and Buckley et al., F.E.B.S.166:202-204 (1984), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The antibodies or binding portions thereof of the present invention canbe used and sold together with equipment to detect the particular labelas a kit for in vitro detection of breast disease.

In the case of a radiolabeled antibody or binding portion thereof, theantibody or binding portion thereof is administered to the patient, islocalized to the region of the patient where diseased breast cellsproduce increased levels of the subject chemokines, and is detected or“imaged” in vivo using known techniques such as radionuclear scanningusing e.g., a gamma camera or emission tomography. See e.g., Bradwell etal., “Developments in Antibody Imaging” in Baldwin et al., eds.,Monoclonal Antibodies for Cancer Detection and Therapy, pp. 65-85, NewYork:Academic Press (1985), which is hereby incorporated by reference.Alternatively, a positron emission transaxial tomography scanner, suchas the one designated Pet VI located at Brookhaven National Laboratory,can be used where the radiolabel emits positrons (e.g., ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹⁵O,and ¹³N).

Fluorophore and chromophore labeled antibodies and binding portionsthereof can be prepared from standard moieties known in the art. Sinceantibodies and other proteins absorb light having wavelengths up toabout 310 nm, the fluorescent moieties should be selected to havesubstantial absorption at wavelengths above 310 nm and preferably above400 nm. A variety of suitable fluorescers and chromophores are describedin Stryer, Science, 162:526 (1968) and Brand et al., Annual Review ofBiochemistry, 41:843-868 (1972), which are hereby incorporated byreference. The antibodies and binding portions thereof can be labeledwith fluorescent chromophore groups by conventional procedures such asthose disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,940,475 to Gross, U.S. Pat. No.4,289,747 to Chu, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,110 to David et al., which arehereby incorporated by reference.

One group of fluorescers having a number of the desirable propertiesdescribed above are the xanthene dyes, which include the fluoresceinsderived from 3,6-dihydroxy-9-hexylxanthhydrol and resamines andrhodamines derived from 3,6-diamino-9-phenylxanthydrol and lissanimerhodamine B. The rhodamine and fluorescein derivatives of9-o-carboxyphenylxanthhydrol have a 9-o-carboxyphenyl group. Fluoresceincompounds having reactive coupling groups such as amino andisothiocyanate groups such as fluorescein isothiocyanate andfluorescamine are readily available. Another group of fluorescentcompounds are the naphthylamines, having an amino group in the α or βposition.

Antibodies and binding portions thereof can be labeled with fluorchromesor chromophores by the procedures described in Goding, MonoclonalAntibodies: Principles and Practice, pp. 208-249, New York:AcademicPress (1983), which is hereby incorporated by reference. The antibodiesand binding portions thereof can be labeled with an indicating groupcontaining the NMR-active ¹⁹F atom, or a plurality of such atomsinasmuch as (i) substantially all of naturally abundant fluorine atomsare the ¹⁹F isotope and, thus, substantially all fluorine-containingcompounds are NMR-active; (ii) many chemically active polyfluorinatedcompounds such as trifluoracetic anhydride are commercially available atrelatively low cost, and (iii) many fluorinated compounds have beenfound medically acceptable for use in humans such as the perfluorinatedpolyethers utilized to carry oxygen as hemoglobin replacements. Afterpermitting such time for incubation, a whole body NMR determination iscarried out using an apparatus such as one of those described in Pykett,Scientific American, 246:78-88 (1982), which is hereby incorporated byreference, to locate and image regions of elevated chemokineconcentration.

The antibodies and binding portions thereof can also be utilized totreat breast disease in vivo. This involves administering to a patientin need of such treatment the antibodies or binding portions thereof bythemselves or with a cytotoxic drug to which the antibodies and bindingportions thereof are bound. Since the antibodies and binding portionsthereof recognize the subject chemokines, diseased breast cells, whichare in proximity to elevated levels of the subject chemokines which theyproduce, are destroyed. Caution must be exercised, however, as suchadministration may destroy normal cells which are in proximity to thechemokines produced by the diseased breast cells.

The antibodies and binding portions thereof of the present invention maybe used to deliver a variety of cytotoxic drugs including therapeuticdrugs, a compound emitting radiation, molecules of plants, fungal, orbacterial origin, biological proteins, and mixtures thereof.

Enzymatically active toxins and fragments thereof are exemplified bydiphtheria toxin A fragment, nonbinding active fragments of diphtheriatoxin, exotoxin A (from Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ricin A chain, abrin Achain, modeccin A chain, α-sacrin, certain Aleurites fordii proteins,certain Dianthin proteins, Phytolacca americana proteins (PAP, PAPII andPAP-S), Morodica charantia inhibitor, curcin, crotin, Saponariaofficinalis inhibitor, gelonin, mitogillin, restrictocin, phenomycin,and enomycin, for example. Procedures for preparing enzymatically activepolypeptides of the immunotoxins are described in WO84/03508 andWO85/03508, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Certaincytotoxic moieties are derived from adriamycin, chlorambucil,daunomycin, methotrexate, neocarzinostatin, and platinum, for example.

Procedures for conjugating the antibodies and binding portions thereofwith the cytotoxic agents have been previously described. Procedures forconjugating chlorambucil with antibodies are described in Flechner,European Journal of Cancer 9:741-745 (1973); Ghose et al., BritishMedical Journal 3:495-499 (1972); and Szekerke et al., Neoplasma19:211-215 (1972), which are hereby incorporated by reference.Procedures for conjugating daunomycin and adriamycin to antibodies aredescribed in Hurwitz et al., Cancer Research 35:1175-1181 (1975) andArnon et al. Cancer Surveys 1:429-449 (1982), which are herebyincorporated by reference. Procedures for preparing antibody-ricinconjugates are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,414,148 to Jansen et al. andin Osawa et al. Cancer Surveys 1:373-388 (1982) and the references citedtherein, which are hereby incorporated by reference. Coupling proceduresare also described in EP 86309516.2, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

The use of the subject antibodies and binding portions thereof can alsobe used in a drug/prodrug treatment regimen. In this method, forexample, a first antibody or binding portion thereof according to thepresent invention is conjugated with a prodrug which is activated onlywhen in close proximity with a prodrug activator. The prodrug activatoris conjugated with a second antibody or binding portion thereof,preferably one which binds to diseased breast cells or to otherbiological materials associated with diseased breast cells (e.g.,another protein produced by diseased breast cells). Drug-prodrug pairssuitable for use in the practice of the present invention are describedin Blakely et al., “ZD2767, an Improved System for Antibody-directedEnzyme Prodrug Therapy That Results in Tumor Regressions in ColorectalTumor Xenografis,” Cancer Research 56:3287-3292 (1996), which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Alternatively, the antibody or binding portion thereof can be coupled tohigh energy radiation emitters, for example, a radioisotope, such as¹³¹I, a γ-emitter, which, when localized at the diseased breast tissuesite, results in a killing of several cell diameters. See, e.g., Order,“Analysis, Results, and Future Prospective of the Therapeutic Use ofRadiolabeled Antibody in Cancer Therapy” in Baldwin et al., eds.,Monoclonal Antibodies for Cancer Detection and Therapy, pp 303-316, NewYork:Academic Press (1985), which is hereby incorporated by reference.Other suitable radioisotopes include α-emitters, such as ²¹²Bi, ²¹³Bi,and ²¹¹At, and β-emitters, such as ¹⁸⁶ Re and ⁹⁰Y.

Where the antibodies or binding portions thereof are used alone to treatbreast disease, such treatment can be effected by initiating endogenoushost immune functions, such as complement-mediated or antibody-dependentcellular cytotoxicity.

The antibodies or binding portions thereof of the present invention canbe used in conjunction with other therapeutic treatment modalities. Suchother treatments include surgery, radiation, cryosurgery, thermotherapy,hormone treatment, chemotherapy, vaccines, and other immunotherapies.

Also encompassed by the present invention is a method of treating breastdisease which involves using the antibodies and binding portions thereofwithout cytotoxic agents for prophylaxis. For example, the antibodiesand binding portions thereof can be used to prevent or delay developmentor progression of breast disease by binding to the chemokines of thepresent invention and, thus, inhibiting their biological activity.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to an isolated nucleicacid molecule which encodes a chemokine of the present invention. Theencoded chemokine is preferably one that is preferentially expressed inbreast tissue or one which can be detected in breast milk. The encodedchemokine can include from about 100 to about 132 amino acids,preferably from about 105 to about 127 amino acids, more preferably,about 105 or 127 amino acids; can have a deduced molecular weight offrom about 10 to about 16 kDa, preferably from about 12 kDa to about 14kDa; and can have a deduced isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 toabout pH 10.7, preferably about 10.4. The term “isolated nucleic acidmolecules” is intended to refer to nucleic acid molecules that aresubstantially free of the biological materials with which they arenaturally found. The term “nucleic acid” is meant to refer topolydeoxyribonucleotides (“DNA”), which contain 2-deoxy-D-ribose, topolyribonucleotides (“RNA”), which contain D-ribose, and to any othertype of polynucleotide which is an N-glycoside of a purine or pyrimidinebase or a modified purine or pyrimidine base. The term “nucleic acid”refers only to the primary structure of the molecule, and, thus, it ismeant to include double- and single-stranded DNA as well as double- andsingle-stranded RNA. There is no intended distinction in length betweenthe terms “nucleic acid” and “oligonucleotide”, and these terms are usedinterchangeably herein.

The nucleic acid molecule can be a DNA or RNA molecule which encodes achemokine having an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 1.One such nucleic acid molecule has a nucleotide sequence correspondingto SEQ ID NO: 6 as follows: AACATCCTCA CTTGTGTTGC TGTCAGTGCC TGTANGGCAGGCAGGAATGC AGCAGAGAGG ACTCGCCATC GTGGCCTTGG CTGTCTGTGC GGCCCTACATGCCTCAGAAG CCATACTTCC CATTGCCTCC AGCTGTTGCA CGGAGGTTTC ACATCATATTTCCAGAAGGC TCCTGGAAAG AGTGAATATG TGTCGCATCC AGAGAGCTGA TGGGGATTGTGACTTGGCTG CTGTCATCCT TCATGTCAAG CGCNGAAGAA TCTGTGTCAG CCCGCACAACCATACTGTTA AGCAGTGGAT GAAAGTGCAA GCTGCCAANA AAAATGGTAA AGGAAATGTTTGCCACAGGA AGAAACACCA TGGCAAGAGG AACAGTAACA GGGCACATCA GGGGAAACACGAAACATACG GCCATAAAAC TCCTTATTAG AGAATCTACA GATAAATCTA CAGAGACAATCCCCCAAGTG GACTTGGCCA TGATTGGTTG TAAGTTTATC ATCTGAATTC TCCTTATTGTAGACAACAGA ACAAAACAAA ATATTGGTTT TTAAAAAATG AACAATTGTG CCGTATGCAAATGTACCCAA TAATATACTC CACTGGAAAA TGAAATGAAA AAANNATACT GGCTGGGTATGGTGGGTCCC CCCTTTTATC CCANNNNCTT CGGGAGGCAG AGGCAGGAGG ATCACTTGAGACCAGGANTT NGAGACNAGC TNGGGGCAAA ANAGCAANGA CNTCATTTNT ACAAACNAAAAAAAANNTTG GCCCGGCNTG GTAGNACTTG CNTATAATCC CAGCNACATG GGAGGTNGAGGTGGGAGGAT CACTTGAGTC TGGGNGAGTT NGAGGTNGCA GTGAGCAGCN TGGGTGACAGAATGNAGACC NTGTCTCTAA AAATAATAAT AATAATGATA GTGTATATCT TCATATAATATTTTAAGNAG GAGCATATAG ATATAACTTN CTCCCAACTT TTTAATTATA GTTTTCCAAACTTACAGAGA AGTTAAAAGA ATGGTACAAT GAACATCTAT ATATCTTTCA CCACAATATTAATCATTGTT AATATTGTGC CACATTTGCT TTCTCTCTCC TCTCTTGGTA GGGGTTNCAATATAAAATAT TATAACTTTT AAAATATATC TTGTTTTGCT AACCATTGGA AAATAAGTTGCAAAAATCAT GACACTTCAC CCCTAGTTTC TTTTNGGTGT TATAACTTGA CATACCCTAAAATAAAGACA TTTTTCTACA TAATCACCTT ATCAGTTTTA TACCTAAAAA ATTAATAATTTCATCTAATA TATTCCATAT TCAAATTTTC CCAACTATTT AGAGAGCATT TTATGTAGTTTTTTTTTCAC TCCAGTAATC AATCAAGGTN GACATACATA TTGCAAATAA TTGTTATTTTTCTTTAATAT CTTTCAATCT AAGAAAGTTC CTCTGTCTTT TTTTTTTAAT TTTTAAAATTATTTTGTTGA GGGAGGGTCT TGCTGTGTCT TCCAGGCTGG AGTGCAGTGG CACAATTTTGATTTTGGCTC ACTGAAGCCT CAACTTTAGG GCTCAAGCAA TCCTCCCACC TCAGCCTNCCCGAGTATCTG GGATCAAGGT GCATACCCAC CACACCTGGC TAATTTTGTT TATTTTTTGTAGAGACAGGG TCTCACTATG TTGCCCAGGT TGATCTCAAA CTCCTGGGCT CAAGCGATCCTCCCACCTTA GCCTCCCAAA GTACTGGGAT TATAGGTGTG AGCCACAGTG CCTGGCCTAATTATTTTCTT GTGATCAAAT TCAGGTTTAA TGTTTTTGGT TAAGAATTTC CTACGTGAATTCGTGTACTT ATTTTGTCAT TTAGAGTTCA TAAATATTAG GGTTTATTTT CTAAATAGAATAGTTTAAAC TAAATATAAC TTCAAAACGT CTAGTTTGAG TAGCTACCGT TGTTTGGATTGAAATTTTCT GATACTGAAA AGAACAAAAA GCCTGCCTTT CTGCCCANAA CSNNTTGCYTCCCCCAGTNA GTTCTTGGNG CAGNACTAGT TAGGGNCCCA GAGTTNGGCC TTNNGKGTGGTGATTTTANG YTCTGCCTAA ACAAGGNGCN WACATYTTTT AGCTCCTATT CCACCYTTCTNAMANGTTTT TGTTGTKGTT TGNTTGTTTT TTTKGAGACA GRRTNTNAYT CTGTTTGCCCARGCTGGART TGCAGTGGCA CAATYTNGGY TNCATTGCAA CYTCNGCYTC CSSGCCGTTCAAKTGATYYT CTTGCYTCAG CYTCCCCAAG TAANTGATAT TACAGGNGCC CAGCCACCANACCCCGNTGA WTTTTGTATT TTTARTARAR AMRGGGTTTT CCCGCNTTGG CNGGGCTGGTCTCNAANTCC TTGANCTCNA KTGAACCACC CGCCTGTGCC YCCCAAANTG CTGGAATTACCANCGTTGAN CCACCATGCC GGGCYCACAC GTTTGARTTT GANACCATTG TNCCATTCCTCTTTTGGCCT YTTTTTTNTC CATAGNNGCT TCAAGATAGA TANGTAAGRG CCCAGTAGTNGTTCWTARGA AGCNMATAGR RANCRGGARC CANTTTNATC AGGTGGGCAG GTGTCCNNGGCYTCCCTGCT GGYTNNTCCC AAGCGGTGGT GTTGCCARGA NKTNTTGGAR GTGATAATGGGANANACCAG NAGGCMCTGA GTYNCNNTAG GTTNAAATGC CACCAAAACT GGCCTTTGGCCTAATATCCY YCNTTGANTA NTTARCATTT AWTTTATTWA TTTNCCTGAC ATTTNTGCMANCCTTTGTWT TTNTATTTCC NCTNTATARA WGARGAAATT TGAGGNTYTT ARAGGTAAAATGANTTGCNC NRGTNNACMC AGGAAGTGGC NPAPANAANC TTTTTANATN MGAAAAAATTAATAAAATAT AATATGAGAG TAACTTAAAA TATTAATAAA CCACAATTTT AAATTAATTAACCGTGATAA CCAACATTAA TAAAAGTTAA GATACCAAAA CACTGGTGTN TAATTTTTTNAACTAACAAN TTGAATTATT TTCCATTTTA AATTAATTAA CCGTGATAAC CAACATTAATAAAAGTTAAG ATACCGN

Another such nucleic acid molecule has a nucleotide sequencecorresponding to SEQ ID NO: 7 as follows: ATGCAGCAGA GAGGACTCGCCATCGTGGCC TTGGCTGTCT GTGCGGCCCT ACATGCCTCA GAAGCCATAC TTCCCATTGCCTCCAGCTGT TGCACGGAGG TTTCACATCA TATTTCCAGA AGGCTCCTGG AAAGAGTGAATATGTGTCGC ATCCAGAGAG CTGATGGGGA TTGTGACTTG GCTGCTGTCA TCCTTCATGTCAAGCGCNGA AGAATCTGTG TCAGCCCGCA CAACCATACT GTTAAGCAGT GGATGAAAGTGCAAGCTGCC AANAAAAATG GTAAAGGAAA TGTTTGCCAC AGGAAGAAAC ACCATGGCAAGAGGAACAGT AACAGGGCAC ATCAGGGGAA ACACGAAACA TACGGCCATA AAACTCCTTA TThis nucleic acid represents an open reading frame of the nucleic acidmolecule having a nucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:6.

The above isolated nucleic acid molecules of the present invention whichencode for chemokines of the present invention can be used along withconventional recombinant methods to produce isolated chemokines of thepresent invention

Briefly, this is carried out by incorporating any one of the DNAmolecules encoding chemokines of the present invention in cells usingconventional recombinant DNA technology. This involves inserting theselected DNA molecule into an expression system to which that DNAmolecule is heterologous (i.e., not normally present). The heterologousDNA molecule is inserted into the expression system or vector in properorientation and correct reading frame. The vector contains the necessaryelements for the transcription and translation of the insertedprotein-coding sequences.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,224 to Cohen and Boyer, which is hereby incorporatedby reference, describes the production of expression systems in the formof recombinant plasmids using restriction enzyme cleavage and ligationwith DNA ligase. These recombinant plasmids are then introduced by meansof transformation and replicated in unicellular cultures includingprocaryotic organisms and eucaryotic cells grown in tissue culture.

Recombinant genes may also be introduced into viruses, such as vaccinavirus. Recombinant viruses can be generated by transfection of plasmidsinto cells infected with virus.

Suitable vectors include, but are not limited to, the following viralvectors such as lambda vector system gt11, gt WES.tB, Charon 4, andplasmid vectors such as pBR322, pBR325, pACYC177, pACYC184, pUC8, pUC9,pUC18, pUC19, pLG339, pR290, pKC37, pKC101, SV 40, pBluescript II SK+/−or KS+/− (see “Stratagene Cloning Systems” Catalog (1993) fromStratagene, La Jolla, Calif., which is hereby incorporated byreference), pQE, pIH821, pGEX, pET series (see Studier et. al., “Use ofT7 RNA Polymerase to Direct Expression of Cloned Genes” in GeneExpression Technology, vol. 185 (1990), which is hereby incorporated byreference) and any derivatives thereof. Recombinant molecules can beintroduced into cells via transformation, particularly transduction,conjugation, mobilization, or electroporation. The DNA sequences arecloned into the vector using standard cloning procedures in the art, asdescribed by Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual,Cold Springs Harbor, N.Y.:Cold Springs Laboratory Press (1982), which ishereby incorporated by reference.

A variety of host-vector systems may be utilized to express theprotein-encoding sequence(s). Primarily, the vector system must becompatible with the host cell used. Host-vector systems include but arenot limited to the following: bacteria transformed with bacteriophageDNA, plasmid DNA, or cosmid DNA; microorganisms such as yeast containingyeast vectors; mammalian cell systems infected with virus (e.g.,vaccinia virus, adenovirus, etc.); insect cell systems infected withvirus (e.g., baculovirus). The expression elements of these vectors varyin their strength and specificities. Depending upon the host-vectorsystem utilized, any one of a number of suitable transcription andtranslation elements can be used.

Different genetic signals and processing events control many levels ofgene expression (e.g., DNA transcription and messenger RNA (mRNA)translation).

Transcription of DNA is dependent upon the presence of a promoter whichis a DNA sequence that directs the binding of RNA polymerase and therebypromotes mRNA synthesis. The DNA sequences of eucaryotic promotersdiffer from those of procaryotic promoters. Furthermore, eucaryoticpromoters and accompanying genetic signals may not be recognized in ormay not function in a procaryotic system, and, further, procaryoticpromoters are not recognized and do not function in eucaryotic cells.

Similarly, translation of mRNA in procaryotes depends upon the presenceof the proper procaryotic signals which differ from those of eucaryotes.Efficient translation of mRNA in procaryotes requires a ribosome bindingsite called the Shine-Dalgamo (“SD”) sequence on the mRNA. This sequenceis a short nucleotide sequence of mRNA that is located before the startcodon, usually AUG, which encodes the amino-terminal methionine of theprotein. The SD sequences are complementary to the 3′-end of the 16SrRNA (ribosomal RNA) and probably promote binding of mRNA to ribosomesby duplexing with the rRNA to allow correct positioning of the ribosome.For a review on maximizing gene expression, see Roberts et al., Methodsin Enzamology 68:473 (1979), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Promoters vary in their “strength” (i.e., their ability to promotetranscription). For the purposes of expressing a cloned gene, it isdesirable to use strong promoters in order to obtain a high level oftranscription and, hence, expression of the gene. Depending upon thehost cell system utilized, any one of a number of suitable promoters maybe used. For instance, when cloning in E. coli, its bacteriophages, orplasmids, promoters such as the T7 phage promoter, lac promoter, trppromoter, recA promoter, ribosomal RNA promoter, the PR and PL promotersof coliphage lambda and others, including but not limited, to lacUV5,ompF, bla, lpp, and the like, may be used to direct high levels oftranscription of adjacent DNA segments. Additionally, a hybridtrp-lacUV5 (tac) promoter or other E. coli promoters produced byrecombinant DNA or other synthetic DNA techniques may be used to providefor transcription of the inserted gene.

Bacterial host cell strains and expression vectors may be chosen whichinhibit the action of the promoter unless specifically induced. Incertain operons, the addition of specific inducers is necessary forefficient transcription of the inserted DNA. For example, the lac operonis induced by the addition of lactose or IPTG(isopropylthio-beta-D-galactoside). A variety of other operons, such astrp, pro, etc., are under different controls.

Specific initiation signals are also required for efficient genetranscription and translation in procaryotic cells. These transcriptionand translation initiation signals may vary in “strength” as measured bythe quantity of gene specific messenger RNA and protein synthesized,respectively. The DNA expression vector, which contains a promoter, mayalso contain any combination of various “strong” transcription and/ortranslation initiation signals. For instance, efficient translation inE. coli requires a Shine-Dalgarno (“SD”) sequence about 7-9 bases 5′ tothe initiation codon (ATG) to provide a ribosome binding site. Thus, anySD-ATG combination that can be utilized by host cell ribosomes may beemployed. Additionally, any SD-ATG combination produced by recombinantDNA or other techniques involving incorporation of synthetic nucleotidesmay be used.

Once the desired isolated DNA molecule encoding a chemokine according tothe present invention has been cloned into an expression system, it isready to be incorporated into a host cell. Such incorporation can becarried out by the various forms of transformation noted above,depending upon the vector/host cell system. Suitable host cells include,but are not limited to, bacteria, virus, yeast, mammalian cells, and thelike.

Recombinant DNA technology can also be used to produce fragments of theabove chemokines, such as the above-referenced peptides. For example,subclones of the gene encoding a subject chemokine are produced byconventional molecular genetic manipulation by subcloning genefragments. The subclones then are expressed in vitro or in vivo inbacterial cells to yield a smaller peptide that can be tested for itsantigenic activity (i.e., capacity to be used as an antigen to raiseantibodies which recognize an antigenic portion of the chemokine).

As an alternative, protein fragments can be produced by digestion of afull-length subject chemokine with proteolytic enzymes likechymotrypsin, Staphylococcus proteinase A, or trypsin. Differentproteolytic enzymes are likely to cleave proteins at different sitesbased on the amino acid sequence of the protein. Some of the fragmentsthat result from proteolysis may have antigenic activity.

In still another approach, based on knowledge of the primary structureof the subject chemokines, fragments of the encoding gene may besynthesized by using the polymerase chain reaction (“PCR”) techniquetogether with specific sets of primers chosen to represent particularportions of the protein. These then would be cloned into an appropriatevector to facilitate expression of a peptide having, for example,antigenic activity.

Chemical synthesis can also be used to make suitable fragments. Such asynthesis is carried out using known amino acid sequences for thechemokines of the present invention. Alternatively, subjecting a fulllength subject chemokine to high temperatures and pressures will producefragments. These fragments can then be separated by conventionalprocedures (e.g., chromatography and SDS-PAGE).

The chemokines of the present invention and their fragments canoptionally be modified by, for example, the deletion or addition ofamino acids that have minimal influence on the properties, secondarystructure, and hydropathic nature of the chemokine or fragments. Forexample, a chemokine or peptide of the present invention can beconjugated to a signal (or leader) sequence at the N-terminal end of thechemokine which co-translationally or post-translationally directstransfer of the protein. The chemokine or peptide can also be conjugatedto a linker or other sequence for ease of protein synthesis,purification, or identification. The peptides of the present inventioncan also include, in addition to the antigenic portion of the chemokine,other amino acid sequences, such as T-cell antigenic stimuli and otheramino acid sequences which increase the peptide's immunogenicity.

As indicated above, the chemokines and peptides of the present inventionare preferably produced in purified form (preferably at least about 80%,more preferably 90% pure) by conventional techniques. The chemokines orpeptides of the present invention are preferably produced in purifiedform by conventional techniques, of which the following is one example.To isolate the proteins, an E. coli host cell carrying a recombinantplasmid is propagated and homogenized, and the homogenate is centrifugedto remove bacterial debris. The supernatant is then subjected tosequential ammonium sulfate precipitation. The fraction containing thechemokines or peptides of the present invention is subjected to gelfiltration in an appropriately sized dextran or polyacrylamide column toseparate the chemokines or peptides. If necessary, the chemokine orpeptide fraction may be further purified by ion exchange chromatographyand/or HPLC.

As indicated above, the chemokines and peptides of the present inventioncan be used to raise antibodies which are useful in the detection andtreatment of breast disease. Breast disease can also be treated usingthe peptides of the present invention by administering to a patientsuffering from breast disease an effective amount of a peptide whichbinds to a cellular receptor for a chemokine of the present invention.Methods for identifying peptides which bind to cellular receptors ofproteins having known amino acid sequences are well known to thoseskilled in the art and are described in, for example, Wells et al.,“Selectivity and Antagonism of Chemokine Receptors,” J. Leukocyte Biol.,59:53-60 (1996) and Horuk, “Molecular Properties of the ChemokineReceptor Family,” Trends Pharmacol. Sci., 15:159-165 (1994), which arehereby incorporated by reference.

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid moleculeswhich, under stringent conditions, hybridize to a nucleic acid moleculeencoding a chemokine of the present invention. Such isolated nucleicacid molecules include those which hybridize, under stringenthybridization conditions, to nucleic acid molecules (1) which encodechemokines that are preferentially expressed in breast tissue or thatare detected in breast milk; (2) which encode chemokines which includefrom about 100 to about 132 amino acids, which have a deduced molecularweight of from about 10 to about 16 kDa, and which have a deducedisoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7; (3) which encodechemokines which include from about 105 to about 127 amino acids, whichhave a deduced molecular weight of from about 12 to about 14 kDa, andwhich have an isoionic point of about pH 10.4; (4) which encodechemokines having an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1;(5) which have a nucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:6; and(6) which have a nucleotide sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:7.Preferably, the nucleic acid molecules which hybridize under stringentconditions to nucleic acid molecules encoding a chemokine of the presentinvention preferentially hybridize to nucleic acid molecules from breasttissue. That is, more of the chemokine of the present invention willhybridize, under stringent conditions, to nucleic acid molecules frombreast tissue that to nucleic acid molecules from other tissues in thebody.

The present invention also relates to isolated nucleic acid moleculeswhich, under stringent conditions, hybridize to the complement of anucleic acid molecule encoding a chemokine of the present invention.

“Stringent conditions”, as used herein in relation to hybridization,mean approximately 35° C. to 70° C., preferably about 50° C., 55° C.,60° C., and/or 65° C., in a salt solution of approximately 0.9 molarNaCl. These conditions are frequently represented by a wash stringencyof 0.3 M NaCl, 0.03 M sodium citrate, 0.1% SDS at 70° C. to a DNAmolecule encoding a chemokine of the present invention in a standard insitu hybridization assay. See Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: ALaboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.:Cold Spring HarborLaboratory (1989). In general, such sequences will be at least 95%homologous, often at least 98% homologous, and even at least 99%homologous with the sequences of DNA molecules encoding chemokines ofthe present invention.

Illustrative nucleic acid molecules include those which have anucleotide sequence corresponding toACACGAATTCACGTAGGAAATTCTTAACCAAAAACATTAAACCTGAATTTGATCACAAGAAAATAATTAGGCCAGGCACTGTGGCTCACACCTATAATCCCAGT(SEQ ID NO:8), GAATTCACGTAGGAA ATTCTTAACC (SEQ ID NO:9),ACTGGGATTATAGGTGTGAGCC (SEQ ID NO:10), andGGAGAGAGCCGTATGTTTCGTGTTTCCCCTGATGTGCCCTGTTACTGTTCCTCTTGCCATGGTGTTTCTTCCTGTGGCAAACATTTCCTTTACCATTTTTNTTGGCAGCTTGCACTTTCATCCACTGCTTAACAGTATGGTTGTGCGGGCTGACACAGATTNTTCTGCGCTTGACATGAAGGATGACAGCAGCCAAGTCACAATCCCCATCAGCTCTCTGGATGCGACACATATTCACTCTTTCCAGGAGCCTTCTGGAAATATGATGTGAAACCTCCGTGCAACAGCTGGAGGCAATGGGAAGTATGGCT(SEQ ID NO:11), as well as to those which have a nucleotide sequencecorresponding to a complement of and of SEQ ID NOs: 8-11. Of course, asone skilled in the art will recognize, although these exemplary nucleicacid molecules have a defined number of nucleotides, one or morenucleotides may be added or deleted from a particular nucleic acidmolecule without great impact on its ability to hybridize with a nucleicacid molecule encoding a chemokine of the present invention.

The exact size of nucleic acid molecules which hybridize under stringentconditions to nucleic acid molecules encoding a chemokine of the presentinvention depends on many factors and the ultimate use to which thenucleic acid molecule is to be put. These nucleic acid molecules can beprepared by any suitable method, such as by cloning and restriction ofappropriate sequences and by direct chemical synthesis using, forexample, the phosphotriester method (described in, e.g., Narang et al.,Meth. Enzymol. 68:90-99 (1979), which is hereby incorporated byreference); the phosphodiester method (described in, e.g., Brown et al.,Meth. Enzymol. 68:109-151 (1979), which is hereby incorporated byreference); the diethylphosphoramidite method (described in, e.g.,Beaucage et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 22:1859-1862 (1981), which is herebyincorporated by reference); and the solid support method (described in,e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066 to Caruthers et al., which is herebyincorporated by reference). These and other methods for synthesizingoligionucleotides are described in Goodchild, Bioconjugate Chemistry1(3):165-187 (1990), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The nucleic acid molecules which hybridize under stringent conditions tonucleic acid molecules encoding a chemokine of the present invention canbe used as probes in hybridization assays to detect breast disease in apatient. For example, a sample of tissue or body fluid from the patientis contacted with a nucleic acid probe which, under stringentconditions, hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule encoding a chemokineaccording to the present invention or to a complement thereof. Thecontacting is carried out under conditions effective to permit formationof a hybridization complex between the probe and breast tissue specificnucleic acid molecules (i.e., the nucleic acid molecules encodingchemokines of the present invention). Breast disease is then detected bydetecting the hybridization complex.

As used herein, the term “probe” refers to an oligonucleotide whichforms a duplex structure with a sequence of a target nucleic acid (e.g.,a nucleic acid molecule which encodes a chemokine of the presentinvention) due to complementary base pairing. The probe will contain ahybridizing region, which is a region of the oligonucleotidecorresponding to a region of the target sequence. A probeoligonucleotide either can consist entirely of the hybridizing region orcan contain additional features which allow for the detection orimmobilization of the probe but do not alter the hybridizationcharacteristics of the hybridizing region. The term “probe” also refersto a set of oligonucleotides which provide sufficient sequence variantsof the hybridization region to permit hybridization with each member ofa given set of target sequence variants. Additionally, a probe cancontain mismatches with some or all members of a given set of targetsequence variants, provided that it contains sufficient regions ofcomplementarity with each target sequence variant to permithybridization with all target sequence variants under suitableconditions.

Samples of the patient's tissue or body fluids suitable for the use inthe detection method using probes include those which are discussedabove with regard to detection methods employing antibodies.

Detection of the hybridization complex can be carried out by a varietyof conventional methods. These include electrophoresis, DNA sequencing,blotting, microplate hybridization, or microscopic visualization.Alternatively, the probe can have bound thereto a label, such asdetectable functional nucleotide sequence (e.g., a T7 site, arestriction site, and the like) or one of the labels described above assuitable for use in the detection method of the present inventionemploying antibodies. Detection, in this case, involves detecting thepresence of the label, for example using the techniques discussed aboveor by using one of the conventional methods for detecting detectablefunctional nucleotide sequences.

The nucleic acid molecules which hybridize under stringent conditions tonucleic acid molecules encoding a chemokine of the present invention canalso be used as primers in a DNA amplification assay to detect breastdisease in a patient. For example, a sample of tissue or body fluid fromthe patient can be contacted with a nucleic acid primer which, understringent conditions, hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule encoding achemokine according the present invention or to a complement thereof.The sample of tissue or body fluid from the patient in contact with thenucleic acid primer is then treated under conditions effective toamplify breast tissue specific nucleic acid molecules, and the breasttissue specific nucleic acid molecules, thus amplified, are thendetected.

As used herein, the term “primer” refers to an oligonucleotide, whethernatural or synthetic, capable of acting as a point of initiation of aDNA synthesis under conditions which produce a primer extension productcomplementary to a nucleic acid strand is induced. Generally, the DNAsynthesis is carried out in the presence of four different nucleosidetriphosphates and an agent for polymerization (e.g., DNA polymerase orreverse transcriptase) in an appropriate buffer (e.g., Tris-HCl), and atsuitable temperatures (e.g., at an annealing temperature of from about45 to about 85° C.; at an extending temperature of from about 55 toabout 75° C.; and at a melting temperature of about 95° C.). The primeris preferably a single-stranded DNA. The optimal length of the primerdepends on the primer's intended use but typically ranges from 15 to 35nucleotides. Short primer molecules generally require coolertemperatures to form sufficiently stable hybrid complexes with thetemplate. A primer need not complement the exact sequence of thetemplate but must be sufficiently complementary to hybridize with atemplate. Primers can incorporate additional features which allow forthe detection or immobilization of the primer but do not alter the basicproperty of the primer, that of acting as a point of initiation of DNAsynthesis. The term “primer”, as used herein, also refers to a set ofoligonucleotides which provide sufficient sequence variants of thehybridization region to permit hybridization with each member of a givenset of target sequence variants, so as to act as a point of initiationof DNA synthesis. Additionally, a primer may consist of one or moreoligonucleotides which contain mismatches with some or all members of agiven set of target sequence variants, but contains sufficient regionsof complementarity with each target sequence variant so as to enablehybridization with all target sequence variants under suitableconditions. The term “consensus primers” is used herein to refer toprimers containing a single oligonucleotide complementary to a consensustarget sequence, to primers consisting of multiple oligonucleotidescomplementary to a consensus target sequence, and to combinationsthereof.

Samples of the patient's tissue or body fluids suitable for the use inthe detection method using probes include those which are discussedabove with regard to detection methods employing antibodies.

Amplification of breast tissue specific nucleic acid molecules (i.e.,nucleic acid molecules encoding the chemokines of the present invention)is preferably carried out by PCR. Use of PCR to amplify DNA is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195 to Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,202 toMullis, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,965,188 to Mullis et al., which are herebyincorporated by reference. Briefly, PCR amplification of DNA involvesrepeatedly heat-denaturing the DNA, annealing two oligonucleotideprimers to sequences that flank the DNA segment to be amplified, andextending the annealed primers with DNA polymerase. The primershybridize to opposite strands of the target sequence and are oriented soDNA synthesis by the DNA polymerase proceeds across the region betweenthe primers, effectively doubling the length of that DNA segment.Moreover, because the extension products are also complementary to andcapable of binding primers, each successive cycle essentially doublesthe amount of DNA synthesized in the previous cycle. This results in theexponential accumulation of the specific target fragment at a rate ofapproximately 2^(n), where n is the number of cycles. Due to theenormous amplification possible with the PCR process, small levels ofDNA carryover from samples with high DNA levels can result in PCRproduct, even in the absence of purposefully added template DNA.Optimally, all reaction mixes are set up in an area separate from PCRproduct analysis and sample preparation and care is taken to avoid crosscontamination, for example, by using dedicated or disposable vessels,solutions, pipettes (preferably positive displacement pipettes), andpipette tips (preferably with aerosol barriers) for RNA/DNA, reactionmixing, and sample analysis. See e.g., Higuchi et al., Nature339:237-238 (1989) and Kwok et al. in Innis et al., eds., PCR Protocols:A Guide to Methods and Applications, San Diego, Calif.:Academic Press,Inc., pp. 142-145 (1990), which are incorporated herein by reference.

Primers suitable for use in the method of the present invention arepreferably 15 to 30 nucleotides in length and are designed to have ahigh degree of homology with breast tissue specific nucleic acidsequences (i.e., with nucleic acid molecules encoding chemokines of thepresent invention). For each region to be amplified, two regions ofhomology are required, one for negative-strand primers and another forpositive-strand primers. Once a homologous region is identified, aconsensus primer is designed. Degenerate bases can be used in the designto accommodate positions at which an individual breast tissue genevaries in sequence from the consensus sequence (genetic polymorhpism).Preferably, as many degenerate positions are made as is necessary sothat all breast tissue sequences have fewer than three mismatches withthe consensus primer. Any mismatches that are not accommodated by thedegenerate positions in the primer should preferably be located morethan 3 bases from the 3′ end of the primer. Likewise, any degeneratepositions should preferably be more than 3 bases from the 3′ end of theprimer. Degenerate primers having estimated minimum and maximum Tms ofabout 54° C. and about 64° C., respectively, are preferred, where Tmsare estimated by summing a contribution from each base pair. In thisformulation, each G or C contributes 4° C. to the Tm, and each A or Tcontributes 2° C. to the Tm. Finally, it is generally preferred thatprimers be designed so that they do not span palindromes or repetitivesequences.

Following amplification, the breast tissue specific nucleic acidmolecules are detected to determine whether amplification has occurred.Since amplification will occur (and breast tissue specific nucleic acidmolecules will be detected) only if some amount of breast tissuespecific nucleic acid molecules were present in the sample beforeamplification, detection of breast tissue specific nucleic acidmolecules after amplification indicates the presence of breast diseasein the patient from which the sample came.

Suitable nucleic acid primers include those which, under stringenthybridization conditions, hybridize to a nucleic acid molecule encodinga chemokine having an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1and/or which hybridize to a nucleic acid molecule having a nucleotidesequence corresponding to SEQ ID NOs: 6-8. In particular, suitablenucleic acid primers include those having a nucleotide sequencecorresponding to SEQ ID NO:9 or SEQ ID NO:10.

There are a variety of known methods for determining whetheramplification has occurred. For example, a portion of the PCR reactionmixture can be subjected to gel electrophoresis, the resulting gel canbe stained with, for example, a ultraviolet absorbing stain, such aswith ethidium bromide, and the stained gel can be exposed to ultravioletlight to determine whether a product of the expected size can beobserved. Alternatively, labeled PCR primers or labeleddeoxyribonucleoside 5′-triphosphates can be used to incorporation thelabel into the amplified DNA. The presence of a breast tissue specificnucleic acid amplification product can then be detected by detecting thelabel. Examples of suitable labels and label detection methods includethose set forth above with regard to the detection method which employedhybridization. Another method for determining if amplification hasoccurred involves testing a portion of the amplified reaction mixturefor ability to hybridize to a labeled probe designed to hybridize onlyto the amplified DNA. Amplified breast tissue specific nucleic acidmolecules can also be detected by DNA sequencing as well as bymicroscopic visualization.

A number of treatments can be used to amplify the breast tissue specificnucleic acid molecules (i.e., nucleic acid molecules encoding achemokine of the present invention). These include PCR, ligase chainreaction (“LCR”), self-sustained sequence (“3SR”) replication, Q-betareplicase, nucleic acid sequence based amplification (“NASBA”),transcription-based amplification System (“TAS”), or branched-DNAmethods.

Although PCR is the preferred amplification method, amplification oftarget sequences in a sample may be accomplished by any knownamplification method, such as ligase chain reaction methods (described,e.g., in Wu et al., Genomics 4:560-569 (1988), which is herebyincorporated by reference). In LCR, the consensus primers can be used todirect the joining of oligonucleotide segments that anneal to the targetnucleic acid, thereby amplifying the target. Further details with regardto this method can be found in, for example, WO 89/09835, which ishereby incorporated by reference. Other suitable amplification methodsinclude the TAS amplification system (described, e.g., in Kwoh et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1173-1177 (1989), which is herebyincorporated by reference), branched-DNA methods (described, e.g., inKern et al., J. Clin. Microbiol. 34:3196-3202 (1996), which is herebyincorporated by reference), and self-sustained sequence replicationmethods (described, e.g., in Guatelli et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA87:1874-1878 (1990), which is hereby incorporated by reference). Each ofthese methods provides sufficient amplification so that the targetsequence can be detected by nucleic acid hybridization to anoligonucleotide probe, such as those described above, or by otherdetection methods. Alternatively, methods that amplify the probe todetectable levels, such as Q-beta replicase amplification can beemployed. This method is described in, for example, Kramer et al.,Nature 339:401-402 (1989) and Lomeli et al., Clin. Chem. 35:1826-1831(1989), which are hereby incorporated by reference. Further detailsregarding these and other suitable amplification methods are provided inAbramson et al., Current Opinion in Biotechnology 4:41-47 (1993), whichis hereby incorporated by reference. The term “probe”, as used withregard to the above amplification methods, encompasses any of thesequence-specific oligonucleotides used in these procedures. Forinstance, the two or more oligonucleotides used in LCR are “probes” forpurposes of the present invention, even though some embodiments of LCRonly require ligation of the probes to indicate the presence of anallele.

In some cases, the tissue or fluid sample from the patient may contain abreast tissue specific nucleic acid transcript (i.e., mRNA) which codesfor the chemokine of the present invention. In this situation, the mRNAcan be converted to cDNA by reverse transcription-PCR (“RT-PCR”) priorto amplification. This involves treating the mRNA-containing sample withreverse transcriptase in an appropriate reaction mixture and in thepresence of an appropriate primer. The primer used in the reversetranscription reaction can be a consensus primer of the presentinvention, or it can be a different oligonucleotide that hybridizes nearthe 3′ end of the mRNA. Although random hexamers are not specific forthe 3′ end of the mRNA molecule, they are suitable for reversetranscription of mRNA to provide a cDNA template for amplifying breasttissue specific nucleic acids. This cDNA copy is then made into a doublestranded DNA molecule, which can be amplified as described above.

The nucleic acid primer used in the above amplification detection methodmay be assembled as a kit for detecting breast disease. Such a kitincludes consensus primers and molecular probes. A preferred kit alsoincludes the components necessary to determine if amplification hasoccurred. The kit may also include, for example, PCR buffers andenzymes; positive control human breast tissue specific sequences,reaction control primers, such as betaglobin primers; and instructionsfor amplifying and detecting breast tissue specific sequences.

The symbols used herein to designate particular nucleotides are setforth below in Table 2. TABLE 2 Symbol Meaning G guanine A adenine Tthymine C cytosine R adenine or guanine Y cytosine or thymine M adenineor cytosine K guanine or thymine S cytosine or guanine W adenine orthymine H adenine or cytosine or thymine B cytosine or guanine orthymine V adenine or cytosine or guanine D adenine or guanine or thymineN adenine or cytosine or guanine or thymine

The present invention is further illustrated by the following examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation of Novel Human Breast Tissue SpecificNucleic Acid Sequences Using Suppression Subtractive Hybridization

Suppression Subtractive Hybridization (“SSH”) was performed according tothe protocol of Diatchenko et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA93:6025-6030 (1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference, usingcommercial reagents from Clontech (PCR-Select cDNA subtraction kit).Human polyA RNAs derived from bone marrow, skeletal muscle, lung, liver,pancreas, and mammary gland were obtained from Clontech, and 2 mg ofeach were reverse transcribed. The cDNAs derived from mammary gland weresubdivided and ligated to different cDNA adaptors according to themanufacturer's protocol. Primary and secondary subtractivehybridizations were performed by adding an excess of denatured cDNAsderived from human bone marrow, lung, pancreas, liver, and skeletalmuscle (“driver” “cDNAs”) to the mammary gland cDNA (“tester cDNA”). Theentire population of subtracted molecules was subjected to two rounds ofDNA amplification: a primary PCR to amplify differentially expressedsequences and a secondary (nested) PCR to enrich for those sequences.PCR primers 1 and 2 and nested PCR primers 1 and 2 (Clontech) were usedin accordance with the protocol of the PCR-Select cDNA subtraction kitfor primary and secondary PCR, respectively. All DNA amplifications wereperformed with a Perkin-Elmer DNA Thermal Cycler Model 2400 usingparameters of 94° C., 5 seconds (denature); 68° C., 30 seconds (anneal);and 72° C., 150 seconds (extend) and using the Advantage KlentaqPolymerase Mix (Clontech) which contains a TaqStart Antibody to provideautomatic hot start PCR (Kellogg et al., Biotechniques 16:1134-1137(1994), which is hereby incorporated by reference). PCR was optimizedusing the control reagents contained in the PCR-Select cDNA subtractionkit as template and the OPTI-PRIME™ PCR Optimization Kit (Stratagene).Amplification products were analyzed by gel electrophoresis (Sambrook etal., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed., Cold SpringHarbor, N.Y.:Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1987) (“Sambrook”) andAusubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, New York:GreenePublishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience (1990) (“Ausubel”), whichare hereby incorporated by reference). In our hands, the optimal bufferfor primary PCR contained 40 mM Tricine-KOH (pH 9.2), 15 mM KOAc, 3.5 mMMg (OAc)₂, and 75 mg/ml bovine serum albumin (10× Klentaq PCR reactionbuffer, Clontech). The optimal buffer for secondary PCR contained 10 mMTris-HCl (pH 8.3), 75 mM KCl, and 3.5 mM MgCl₂ (Stratagene, Opti-Prime1× Buffer #4) with 5% dimethylsulfoxide.

Example 2 Cloning of the Subtracted cDNAs

Nested PCR primer 1 was phosphorylated using reagents from Invitrogen(Eukaryotic TA Cloning Kit, Unidirectional). Secondary PCR (10 cycles)was performed in the optimized buffer described above using nested PCRprimer 2 and the phosphorylated nested PCR primer 1. PCR products weredirectionally ligated into the mammalian expression TA cloning vectorpCR™3.1-Uni and transformed into TOP10F' competent cells using generaltechniques (Sambrook and Ausubel, which are hereby incorporated byreference) and commercial reagents from InVitrogen. PCR™3.1-Uni containsa T-overhang which allows the direct cloning of PCR products containingsingle 3′ A-overhangs (Mead et al., Bio/Technology 9:657-663 (1991),which is hereby incorporated by reference. Transformed cells wereselected in Luria-Broth media containing 25 mg/ml kanamycin.

Example 3 Sequencing of Differentially Expressed Clones

DNA plasmid isolations were performed using the Qiagen Plasmid Mini Kitwhich employs the alkaline lysis method (Sambrook, which is herebyincorporated by reference). Plasmids were screened for insert sequencesusing nested PCR primers 1 and 2 and the protocol and reagents from theGeneamp PCR Kit (Perkin Elmer), and amplified products were analyzed bygel electrophoresis. Clones containing inserts greater than 100basepairs (“bp”) were obtained for sequencing analysis. Dideoxy DNAsequencing was performed using the Applied Biosystems Model 373Automated DNA Sequencing System. The DNA sequence of each strand wasdetermined using sequencing primers T7 (5′ TAATACGACTCACTATAGGG 3′) (SEQID NO:12) and pCR™3.1 Reverse (5′ TAGAAGGCACAGTCGAGG 3′) (SEQ ID NO:13),respectively.

Example 4 Search for Genetic Homologies

GenBank was searched for homologous sequences via the program BLASTN(Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410 (1990) and Benson et al.,Nucleic Acids Res. 24:1-5 (1996), which are hereby incorporated byreference). Sequences were classified as known or unknown based on theresulting score and probability values. Known sequences were arbitrarilydefined as those having probability values greater than 0.05 (p>0.05)relative to database sequences or those showing homology to non-humanspecies or to cosmids containing human DNA of which a function has notbeen assigned.

Example 5 Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends

Full length mammary associated chemokine (“MACK”) cDNA was generatedusing 5′ and 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (“RACE”) (Frohman, PCRProtocols, New York:Academic Press, pp. 28-39 (1990), which is herebyincorporated by reference) using commercial reagents (Marathon cDNAAmplification Kit, Clontech). Human mammary gland polyA RNA (Clontech)was used as a template for first and second strand cDNA synthesis, andadaptors were ligated to the pool of cDNA according to themanufacturer's protocol. The 3′ RACE product was obtained by using thegene-specific primer (24R) 5′ ACTGGGATTATAGGTGTGAGCC 3′ (SEQ ID NO:14)and Clontech's adaptor primer 1 (AP1) using “Touchdown PCR” according tothe manufacturer's directions. This was followed by a secondary PCRusing the nested gene-specific primer (24R2) 5′ CAAATTCAGGTTTAATGTTTTTGG3′ (SEQ ID NO:15) and Clontech's nested adaptor primer 2 (AP2). PCRproducts were cloned into the T/A cloning vector pCR2.1 (Invitrogen).DNA plasmid preparations were prepared and sequenced using vectorsequences T7 and M13 reverse. Internal sequencing primers were based onconfirmed sequences.

The 5′ RACE product was obtained using Clontech's MARATHON™ Ready cDNAfrom human mammary gland according to their protocol. “Touchdown PCR”was performed on the cDNA using gene-specific primer (F4) 5′CTCAAACGTGTGAGCCCGGCA 3′ (SEQ ID NO:16) and AP1, and nested PCR wasperformed using nested gene-specific primer (F3) 5′GCTACTCAAACTAGACGTTTTGAAG 3′ (SEQ ID NO:17) or (F 1) 5′GAATTCACGTAGGAAATTCTTAACC 3′ (SEQ ID NO:9) and AP2 (see above). PCRproducts were cloned and sequenced as described above. A consensussequence was generated using programs from the Hitachi software packageDNAsis for Windows.

Example 6 Northern Blot Analysis

Human mammary gland PolyA+ RNA (3 μg, Clontech Laboratories, Inc.) wagseparated and transferred using the NORTHERNMAX™ Northern Blotting Kitfrom Ambion. PCR amplification of a 302 bp region within the predictedORF was performed using primers F8 5′ CCGTATGTTTCGTGTTTCCCCTGA 3′ (SEQID NO:18) and R5 5′ AGCCATACTTCCCATTGCCTCCAG 3′ (SEQ ID NO:19) and 5′RACE clone (#27) as template. This fragment was directionally ligated toa T7 promoter (LIG'NSCRIBE™ RNA Polymerase Promoter Addition Kit,Ambion) and amplified such that the antisense strand was orientatedimmediately downstream to the T7 promoter according to themanufacturer's protocol. An antisense riboprobe having SEQ ID NO:11 wastranscribed in vitro using T7 RNA polymerase, and labeled using theBRIGHTSTAR™ Psoralen-Biotin Nonisotopic Labeling Kit (Ambion).Hybridization and chemiluminescent detection were performed usingprotocols from Ambion's NORTHERNMAX™ and BRIGHTSTAR™ BIODETECT™ Kits,respectively.

Example 7 Production of Antisera to the Open Reading Frame ProteinSequence

The predicted open reading frame within the MACK gene was determinedusing commercial software (DNAsis, Hitahci Corp.). Synthetic peptidescorresponding to predicted immunogenic domains, KLH-peptide conjugatesand resultant rabbit antisera were produced by Research Genetics, Inc.(Huntsville, Ala.). Antisera were collected after a 10-week immunizationprotocol.

Example 8 Titration of Anti-Peptide Antisera

Synthetic peptides were dissolved in 0.2 M carbonate-bicarbonate buffer,pH 9.4 (CBC buffer) at a concentration of 10 μg/mL. Microplates werecoated (100 (μL/well) with the peptides at 4° C. for 18 hrs. Thesolution was removed and the microwells were blocked with 1% bovineserum albumin in tris-buffered saline (“TBS”), pH 7.4 for 1 hr.Dilutions of anti-peptide antisera were incubated with the solid-phasepeptides for 1 hr, and, following a wash procedure, goat antibodies torabbit immunoglobulin (biotin-conjugated) were added for 30 min. Afteranother wash procedure, each well received 100 μL of avidin-biotinylatedalkaline phosphatase complex (ABC Kit, Pierce Immunochemicals) for 30min. Thereafter, the wells were washed, and substrate (para-nitrophenylphosphate, 1 mg/ml in diethanolamine buffer, pH 9.8) was added for 30min. After stopping the reactions with 50 μL of 5 N NaOH, opticaldensity was determined at an absorbance of 450 nm using a microplatespectophotometer.

Example 9 Purification of IgG and Enzyme Coupling

IgG from rabbit serum was purified using protein A affinitychromatography (MAPS II Kit, Bio-Rad Labs). IgG was conjugated tohorseradish peroxidase using the periodate oxidation technique (Nakaneet al., J. Histochem. Cytochem. 22:1084-1091 (1974), which is herebyincorporated by reference).

Example 10 SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting

SDS-PAGE was performed as described in Laemmli, Nature 227:680-685(1970) (“Laemmli”), which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Western blotting was performed essentially as described in Papsidero etal., Hybridoma 7:117-128 (1988), which is hereby incorporated byreference, using nitrocellulose paper with a 0.22 μm pore size. Blotswere incubated for 1 hr at room temperature with immune or pre-immunesera diluted in assay buffer. The membranes were washed and developedwith avidin-biotin-alkaline phosphatase reagents using commercialreagents (ABC Kit, Pierce Immunochemicals). Blots were developed withinsoluble substrate (BCIP/NBT solution, Pierce Immunochemicals), washedin water and air-dried.

Example 11 Results of Comparison of Isolated Sequence Tags to GenBank

Human breast tissue mRNA was subjected to SSH and 118 sequence tags wereisolated and sequenced. Of the total examined, 62% (73 of 118) werehomologous to genes found in the GenBank database (Table 3). Ofinterest, approximately 14% (10 of 73) of the previously describedsequences were breast tissue specific or highly associated with breasttissue (i.e., casein isoforms, alpha-lactalbumin, and milk fat globuleproteins). Remarkably, 38% of the sequence tags (45 of 118) demonstratedno significant homology with genes found in the database (Table 3).These novel genes were studied further using RT-PCR in order todetermine the specificity of their tissue expression. TABLE 3 HumanBreast Tissue mRNA Sequence Tags Isolated Using Suppression SubtractionHybridization insert Identical GenBank size Blast Score residues/TotalID # Search (bp) Strongest Homology (probability) residues (%)  1 Known309 Human keratin 459 (p < 0.001) 99/108 (91%)  5 Known 195 Human A1S9mRNA 619 (p < 0.001) 127/133 (95%)  7 Known 66 Human Vimentin 330 (p <0.001) 66/66 (100%)  8 Unknown 198 S. cerevisiae 114 (p = 1.0) 30/39(76%)  10 Known 96 H. sapiens rho GAP protein 462 (p < 0.001) 95/98(96%)  11 Known 105 Mouse cerbA alpha 2 mRNA 507 (p < 0.001) 105/105(100%) (thyroid H.)  14 Known 135 TCR eta = Tcell receptor eta chain 258(p < 0.001) 62/75 (82%)  16 Known 115 Pancreatic peptidylglycine 557 (p< 0.001) 113/115 (98%)  20 Known 182 H. sapiens paraoxynase 520 (p <0.001) 122/146 (83%)  22 Known 194 Human mRNA for cytoskeletal 956 (p <0.001) 192/194 (99%)   gamma actin  23 Unknown 201 Chimpanzee cmycprotooncogene 134 (p = 0.18) 42/61 (68%)  28 Known 150 Milk fat globuleprotein (human) 515 (p < 0.001) 103/103 (100%)  30 Known 442 H. sapiensmitochondrial genome 1245 (p < 0.001) 251/254 (98%)  47 & Unknown 143Beet necrotic yellow vein virus 134 (p = 0.10) 54/88 (61%)  67  51 Known174 H. sapiens mRNA homologue to yeast 831 (p < 0.001) 169/174 (97%)ribo. Protein  54 Unknown 125 M. musculus for Notch 3 179 (p < 0.001)45/57 (78%)  57 Known 180 H. sapiens cDNA for betacasein 715 (p < 0.001)147/155 (94%)  60 Unknown 202 X. laevis mRNA for DNA binding 122 (p =0.88) 42/64 (65%)  61 Known 286 Human 28 k basic protein 1349 (p <0.001) 273/278 (98%)  62 Known 195 Human A1S9 mRNA 968 (p < 0.001)194/195 (99%)  74 Known 152 Human MER 37 transposable element 351 (p <0.001) 87/108 (80%)  75 Known 192 Human mRNA for cytoskeletal 960 (p <0.001) 192/192 (100%) gamma actin  78 Unknown 626 C. elegans ZK1073 123(p = 1.0) 31/39 (79%)  79 & Unknown 90 & 100 Myxococcus xanthusphotolyase 113 (p = 0.96) 29/37 (78%)  80  82 Unknown 295 Actinobacillusriboflavin biosynthesis 121 (p = 0.99) 41/62 (66%) operon  89 Known 214Human casK mRNA for Kappa casein 1063 (p < 0.001) 213/214 (99%) 101Unknown 99 C. elegans C35B8 118 (p = 0.71) 34/47 (72%) 105 Known 84 H.sapiens mRNA for 90 K product 357 (p < 0.001) 75/84 (89%) 114 Unknown111 Human peregrin mRNA 127 (p = 0.23) 39/56 (69%) 115 Known 186 Rat 8sRNA 728 (p < 0.001) 147/151 (97%) 116 Unknown 413 M. musculus for p38264787 (p < 0.001) 171/190 (99%) 120 Known 253 Human SF 2 p33 mRNA(splicing 1223 (p < 0.001) 247/253 (97%) factor) 121 Unknown 154 M.musculus serum inducible 653 (p < 0.001) 141/154 (91%) 122 Unknown 354Drosophila silver p. 264 (p < 0.001) 118/202 (58%) 127 Known 133 H.sapiens mRNA for rat HREV 368 (p < 0.001) 96/125 (76%) 107like 131Unknown 117 C. elegans R12C12 126 (p = 0.31) 38/54 (70%) 133 Unknown 133Bos taurus polymeric immunoglobulin 149 (p < 0.001) 33/37 (89%) 135Unknown 124 Rat vesicle associated membrane 286 (p < 0.001) 60/64 (93%)protein 140 Known 312 Human ferritin 1530 (p < 0.001) 308/312 (98%) 142Unknown 123 Human MAGE 4a antigen gene 129 (p = 0.21) 37/51 (72%) 143Known 94 Human ribosomal protein L28 470 (p < 0.001) 94/94 (100%) 145Unknown 283 M. auratus beta myosin 132 (p = 0.39) 52/84 (61%) 152 Known551 H. sapiens mitochondrial genome 751 (p < 0.001) 153/157 (97%) 155Unknown 238 R. norvecigus adenylyl cyclase 109 (p = 0.87) 35/52 (67%)158 Known 186 Rat 8s RNA 698 (p < 0.001) 142/146 (97%) 162 Known 129Gamma actin 629 (p < 0.001) 127/129 (98%) 164 Known 95 Human mRNA forOSF1 452 (p < 0.001) 92/95 (96%) 171 Known 321 Human mRNA forcytokeratin 1033 (p < 0.001) 209/213 (98%) 175 Unknown 134 M. musculusisocitrate dehydrogenase 130 (p = 0.19) 36/49 (73%) 176 Known 150 Humanmitochondrial DNA 750 (p < 0.001) 150/150 (100%) 178 Unknown 269 GorillaALU repeat/H. sapiens casein 191 (p < 0.001) 47/60 (78%) kinase 179Known 182 Human COREI protein 903 (p < 0.001) 181/182 (99%) 181 Known155 Human alphalactalbumin 712 (p < 0.001) 144/147 (97%) 182 & Unknown259 Human DNA sequence from cosmid 196 (p < 0.001) 78/127 (61%) 197N28H9 188 Known 216 Human ALU 453 (p < 0.001) 101/114 (88%) 189 Unknown105 Human DNA sequence from cosmid 125 (p < 0.001) 31/39 (79%) N37F 192Unknown 104 M. musculus cytoplasmic protein 119 (p = 0.62) 27/31 (87%)195 Known 155 Human alphalactalbumin 696 (p < 0.001) 144/147 (97%) 196Known 156 Mouse 28s rRNA 412 (p < 0.001) 84/86 (97%) 201 Known 183 HumanCOREI protein 841 (p < 0.001) 169/171 (98%) 204 Unknown 194 Human DNAsequence from cosmid 514 (p < 0.001) 118/138 (85%) L139H 205 Known 54Human cytokeratin 238 (p < 0.001) 48/49 (97%) 207 Known 139 Humanprostasin 589 (p < 0.001) 119/121 (98%) 208 Unknown 356 Human cathepsinD (catD) gene 130 (p = 0.64) 34/44 (75%) 209 Known 373 Putative zincfinger Rattus norxecigus 707 (p < 0.001) 161/195 (82%) 210 Known 129Gamma actin 606 (p < 0.001) 124/129 (97%) 214 Known 105 Alphalactalbumin509 (p < 0.001) 103/105 (98%) 216 Known 153 Alphalactalbumin 709 (p <0.001) 143/145 (98%) 218 Known 190 Acidic calponin 941 (p < 0.001)189/190 (99%) 220 Unknown 99 C. elegans cosmid C34E7 108 (p = 1.0) 28/36(77%) 221 Unknown 122 S. cerevisiae chromosome 121 (p = 0.33) 22/25(87%) 223 Unknown 91 Bovine betahydroxylase 113 (p = 0.94) 29/37 (78%)224 Known 164 Lactate dehydrogenase 614 (p < 0.001) 124/127 (97%) 225Known 273 Proalpha collagen 1335 (p < 0.001) 269/273 (98%) 229 Known 235Collagen 1143 (p < 0.001) 232/235 (98%) 230 Unknown 117 Plasmodiumfalciparum (strain FCR3) 116 (p = 0.89) 30/39 (76%) 231 & Unknown 94 CNSmyelin P0like glycoprotein 124 (p = 0.26) 40/59 (67%) 234 232 Unknown405 H. sapiens mRNA for 218 kD Mi2 132 (p = 0.55) 42/62 (67%) protein233 Unknown 198 Rat TnT gene encoding troponin T 130 (p = 0.36) 34/44(77%) 238 Known 140 Human Thy 1 glycoprotein 645 (p < 0.001) 133/140(95%) 242 Known 136 H. sapiens casK mRNA for Kappa 666 (p < 0.001)134/136 (98%) casein 249 Known 136 H. sapiens casK mRNA for Kappa 680 (p< 0.001) 136/136 (100%) casein 250 Known 288 H. sapiens CpG DNA 792 (p <0.001) 164/172 (95%) 252 Known 525 Human pHL1 gene (cmyc oncogene) 1704(p < 0.001) 352/377 (93%) 253 Known 125 Human mRNA for plasma gelsolin618 (p < 0.001) 124/125 (99%) 255 Known 138 Human Xq 28 genomic DNA 333(p < 0.001) 69/74 (93%) 256 Known 56 Human vimentin 280 (p < 0.001)55/55 (100%) 257 Known 236 Human breast cancer LIV1 regulated 1134 (p <0.001) 230/236 (97%) mRNA 258 Known 125 Human gelsolin 618 (p < 0.001)124/125 (99%) 261 Known 283 Human mRNA for ORF myeloblast 1394 (p <0.001) 280/283 (98%) cellline 263 Known 156 Human phemphigoidautoantigen 773 (p < 0.001) 155/156 (99%) 264 Unknown 198 C. elegans N2basichelix 116 (p = 0.99) 36/52 (69%) 269 Unknown No Matches IdentifiedN/A N/A 275 Known 283 Human mRNA for ORF 1373 (p < 0.001) 277/283 (97%)276 Unknown 195 C. elegans cosmid ZK813 133 (p = 0.20) 41/59 (69%) 279Known 339 Alpha casein 1674 (p < 0.001) 336/339 (99%) 284 Known 129 H.sapiens BTF2p44 mRNA for basic 645 (p < 0.001) 129/129 (100%)transcription 287 Known 293 Human mRNA 1251 (p < 0.001) 261/280 (93%)291 Unknown 171 D. melanogaster chromosome 3 locus 133 (p = 0.18) 33/41(80%) 85D 292 Known 148 H. sapiens HIV1 TAR RNA binding 699 (p < 0.001)143/148 (96%) protein 297 Known 136 Human migration inhibitory factor617 (p < 0.001) 127/136 (93%) mRNA 300 Unknown 176 R. norvegicusFSHregulated protein 427 (p < 0.001) 91/98 (92%) mRNA 302 Unknown 96 S.platensis rpsB gene (ribosomal 111 (p = 0.99) 43/69 (62%) protein S2)303 Known 146 H. sapiens alphalactalbumin 705 (p < 0.001) 141/141 (100%)305 Known 99 B. taurus myosin IB mRNA 336 (p < 0.001) 80/99 (80%) 308Unknown 295 D. melanogaster Oregon R mRNA 422 (p < 0.001) 134/197 (68%)314 Unknown 158 Maize mRNA for catalase 2 113 (p = 1.0) 29/37 (78%) 329Unknown 160 C. elegans cosmid C09B9 117 (p = 0.97) 39/59 (66%) 330 Known109 Human nonmuscle myosin alkali light 531 (p < 0.001) 107/109 (98%)chain 333 Unknown 119 Mouse MA3 (apoptosisrelated gene) 124 (p = 0.39)30/37 (81%) mRNA 337 Unknown 99 No Matches Identified N/A N/A 338Unknown 271 Human fur gene, exons 1 through 8 143 (p = 0.057) 51/79(64%) 339 Known 65 H. sapiens mRNA for IgG1 heavy 123 (p = 0.012) 35/48(72%) chain

At least one expressed sequence tag (Table 3, ID # 189), designatedBreast Sequence Tag-24 (BRST-24″), was demonstrated to exhibit a highlevel of specificity to breast tissue. BRST-24 has SEQ ID NO:35 asfollows: ACACGAATTCACGTAGGAAATTCTTAACCAAAAACATTAAACCTGAATTTGATCACAAGAAAATAATTAGGCCAGGCACTGTGGCTCACACCTATAAT CCCAGT

Example 12 Tissue Specificity Analysis of BRST-24 Using RT-PCR

The tissue specificity of BRST-24 was experimentally demonstrated usingRT-PCR analysis of various human tissue mRNAs along with primers whichare complementary to regions of the BRST-24 nucleotide sequence. Theprimers had the following sequences: GAATTCACGTAGGAAATTCTTAACC (F1primer) ACTGGGATTATAGGTGTGAGCC (R1 primer)These sequences are respectively identified herein as SEQ ID NO:9 andSEQ ID NO:10.

Example 13 Detection of BRST-24 Using RT-PCR Analysis of Human Tissues

RT-PCR was performed using the protocol and reagents from thePerkin-Elmer GeneAmp EZ rTth RNA PCR Kit. PCR primers BRST-24 fwd (5′GAATTCACGTAGGAAAT TCTTAACC 3′) (SEQ ID NO:9) and BRST-24 rev (5′ACTGGGATTATAGGTGTGAGCC 3′) (SEQ ID NO:10) were synthesized by ResearchGenetics. A tissue panel of total RNAs derived from human testis, brain,lung, prostate, kidney, skeletal muscle, small intestine, liver,pancreas, uterus, and breast (all obtained from Clontech) was screenedvia RT-PCR for the presence of BRST-24 using a Perkin-Elmer DNA ThermalCycler Model 2400. Reverse transcription was carried out for 30 minutesat 60° C., the reaction mix was denatured at 94° C. for one minutefollowed by 40 cycles of PCR (94° C., 15 seconds (denature), 60° C., 30seconds (anneal and extend)), and a final extension was carried out for7.0 minutes at 60° C. The amplified products were observed on a 3%agarose gel (0.5×TBE) as described in Sambrook, which is herebyincorporated by reference.

As shown in Table 4, the BRST-24 primer pair was able to be utilized toamplify nucleotide sequences from all of three specimens of human breasttissue mRNA using RT-PCR. These specimens included two normal breasttissue pools and one specimen of invasive ductal carcinoma. Other humantissue mRNAs examined were noted to contain no detectable, amplifiablemRNA genetic sequences corresponding to BRST-24. These tissues includedliver, lung, small intestine, pancreas, uterus, brain, kidney, andskeletal muscle. A testes specimen did, however, produce a faintreaction product. As an experimental control, mRNA sequences specificfor prostate specific antigen (“PSA”) were detected by RT-PCR usingprimers homologous to regions within the PSA nucleic acid sequence(Deguchi et al., Cancer Research 53:5350-5354 (1993), which is herebyincorporated by reference). As seen in Table 4, PSA mRNA was exclusivelydetected in human prostate tissue, confirming the specificity of the PSAmRNA expression and the integrity of the experimental protocol. TABLE 4Differential Expression of BRST-24 and PSA Transcripts in Human Tissuesas Detected Using RT-PCR Normal/ BRST-24⁴ PSA⁵ Tissue MalignantExpression Expression Breast¹ Normal  2+⁶ ND⁷ Breast² Normal 2+ −Breast³ Carcinoma 2+ ND Prostate Normal − 2+ Kidney Normal − − PancreasNormal − − Small Intestine Normal − − Skeletal Muscle Normal − − TestisNormal +/− − Brain Normal − − Uterus Normal − − Liver Normal − −Pancreas Normal − −¹Human mammary gland poly A⁺ RNA isolated from a pool of 4 specimens(Caucasian, ages 34-49).²Human mammary gland total RNA isolated from a pool of 6 specimens(Caucasian, ages 16-35).³Total RNA isolated from an invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast(Asian, age 36).⁴RT-PCR using primer pair specific for BRST-24 (SEQ ID Nos: 9 and 10)⁵RT-PCR using primer pairs specific for Prostate Specific Antigen(Deguchi et al., Cancer Research 53: 5350-5354 (1993), which is herebyincorporated by reference).⁶−, negative; +/−, equivocal; 1+, weak; 2+, strong reaction product.⁷ND, not done.

Expression of BR-24 transcript was also monitored using Northernblotting with an internal probe from the BR-24 cDNA sequence having asequence corresponding to S SEQ ID NO:11.

Northern blot analysis of polyA RNA from human mammary gland resulted inthe detection of a transcript appearing slightly above the 3000 basepair marker. This is consistent with the predicted transcript size basedupon results from RACE construction of the full-length cDNA.

BR-24 nucleic acid sequences were also detected in human cell linesusing RT-PCR along with the same primers used in the above experiments.Results as, seen in Table 5, provide additional support to the view thatthe BR-24 gene is expressed preferentially in human mammary cells. TABLE5 Detection of BR-24 Transcripts in Cultured Human Cell Lines Expressionof Cell Line Description BR-24 Transcripts BT-20 Breast Carcinoma 2+MCF-7 Breast Carcinoma 1+ MDA-MB-157 Breast Carcinoma − SK-OV-3 OvaryCarcinoma − LNCaP Prostate Carcinoma − SW620 Colon Carcinoma   1+−

Example 14 Isolation of the Full-length BR-24 cDNA

To obtain the full-length cDNA sequence of MACK, the 5′ and 3′ RACEclones were overlapped. Thus, this sequence represents the consensus of5′ and 3′ RACE clones from a population of donor mRNAs. The 5′ RACEclones varied in length at the 5′ end which may be attributed tosecondary structure and pausing of the reverse transcription during cDNAsynthesis. Using this method, a consensus cDNA sequence of 3117 basepairs, excluding the polyA tail was generated. This sequence isidentified herein as SEQ ID NO:6.

Using computer algorithms (DNASis software package, Hitachi Corp.), theopen reading frame was determined to encode a protein of 127 aminoacids, between nucleic acid bases 47 and 428 above. The amino acidsequence of this protein is identified herein as SEQ ID NO:1. Thededuced molecular weight of the protein was 14,232 daltons, and thededuced isoionic point was pH 10.44.

Of interest, the above protein sequence shared sequence homology with aclass of cytokines designated as “chemokines” (See Baggiolini et al.,Ann. Rev. Immunol. 15:675-705 (1997) and Rollins, Blood 90:909-928(1997), which are hereby incorporated by reference. Thus, the abovesequence represents a new member of the “CC” or “β” class of chemokines.FIG. 1 shows alignment of the MACK amino acid sequence with othermembers of the CC chemokine family. Of significance, the identificationof cytokines in human milk is of great interest and is a topic which hasbeen recently investigated (Srivastava et al., Res. Commun. Molec. Path.Pharm. 93:263-283 (1996), which is hereby incorporated by reference).

Example 15 Specificity of Anti-Peptide Antisera

Rabbit antisera were raised against three regions (underlined type) ofthe MACK protein sequence (SEQ ID NO:1): MQQRGLAIVA LAVCAALHASEAILPIASSC CTEVSHHISR RLLERVNMCR IQRADGDCDL AAVILHVKRX RICVSPHNHTVKQWMKVQAA XKNGKGNVCH RKKHHGKRNS NRAHQGKHET YGHKTPY

The sequence corresponding to amino acids 32-49 of the MACK protein wasdesignated “MACK A” and has an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQID NO:3. The sequence corresponding to amino acids 92-107 of the MACKprotein was designated “MACK B” and has an amino acid sequencecorresponding to SEQ ID NO:4. The sequence corresponding to amino acids109-127 of the MACK protein was designated “MACK C” and has an aminoacid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:5.

Antisera against their respective peptides demonstrated high titer, upto dilutions of over 100,000. In addition, anti-peptide antisera reactedwith a high degree of specificity to their corresponding immunogen.

To determine if antisera raised against peptides from the deducedprotein sequence of the MACK protein recognized the native protein,Western blotting experiments were performed. Inasmuch as the prostatetissue specific protein PSA is found in the secretion of the prostategland (i.e., seminal fluid), it was suspected that the MACK proteinwould be detectable in the secretion of the mammary gland. Of interest,when samples of human milk were examined on Western blotting versus theanti-MACK peptide antisera, each of 6 specimens was noted to contain animmunoreactive protein of having an experimentally determined weight ofapproximately 16-17 kDa. This band was not present when control blotswere allowed to react with non-immune rabbit sera, suggestingspecificity associated with the use of the anti-MACK peptide antisera.This specificity was confirmed using absorption experiments with solublepeptides. Following absorption of the anti-sera with soluble peptides(100 μg per ml of antiserum dilution), the specific immunoreactive bandwas abrogated (not shown).

Example 16 Detection of Mammary Associated Chemokine (MACK) in BreastCancer Sera Using Western Blotting

Aliquots (1.5 μl) of human sera were heated to 100° C. for 15 min in thepresence of reducing agent (mercaptoethanol) and denaturant (sodiumdodecyl sulfate (“SDS)) and were then subjected to SDS-polyacrylamidegel electiophoresis (“SDS-PAGE”) (as described in Laemmli, which ishereby incorporated by reference) in a 15% PAGE gel. Afterelectrophoresis, the separated proteins were transferred to anitrocellulose membrane (0.2 μm pore) (Towbin et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. U.S.A., 76:4350-4354 (1979), which is hereby incorporated byreference). Non-specific protein binding sites on the membrane wereblocked with a solution containing bovine serum albumin (“BSA”) (2% intris-buffered saline, pH 7.4) for 1 hr. Thereafter, the membrane wasallowed to react for 1 hr with a 1/1000 dilution of polyclonal (rabbit)antisera raised against synthetic peptides corresponding to regions ofthe MACK gene product, as described in Examples 7 and 15. The membranewas washed thrice in tris-buffered saline and developed withavidin-biotin complex reagents (Pierce Chemicals) according to therecommendations of the manufacturer. Specific bands were revealedfollowing the addition of insoluble alkaline phosphatase substrate(BCIP/NBT).

The results, presented in Table 6, demonstrated the occurrence of twoprotein bands (one at 20-30 kDa and one at 7-12 kDa) specifically foundin sera obtained from patients with breast cancer. Of 31 such specimensexamined, 30 sera demonstrated both bands, while one specimen (number1871) demonstrated the 20-30 kDa band only. In comparison, none of 10serum specimens obtained from patients with lymphoma or with prostatic,ovarian, lung, or colon cancers showed either of the specific bands whenallowed to react with the antibodies to MACK. In addition, MACK peptidebands were not seen in sera obtained from 7 normal individuals (Table6). These results demonstrate that MACK or MACK-associated proteins arefound in the circulation of individuals with cancer of the breast andthat detection of these immunoreactivities can be of diagnostic and/ormonitoring value for the disease. TABLE 6 High Low Sample ID DiagnosisStage Band¹ Band² 1008 Breast Cancer unknown + + 1869 Breast Cancer3 + + 1870 Breast Cancer 3 + + 1871 Breast Cancer 3 + − 1872 BreastCancer 3 + + 1873 Breast Cancer 3 + + 1874 Breast Cancer 3 + + 1875Breast Cancer 3 + + 1876 Breast Cancer 3 + + 1877 Breast Cancer 3 + +1878 Breast Cancer 3 + + 1293 Breast Cancer unknown + + 1294 BreastCancer unknown + + 1296 Breast Cancer unknown + + 1297 Breast Cancerunknown + + 1298 Breast Cancer unknown + + 1299 Breast Cancerunknown + + 1300 Breast Cancer unknown + + 1301 Breast Cancerunknown + + 1302 Breast Cancer unknown + + 1303 Breast Cancerunknown + + 2694 Breast Cancer 2 + + 2697 Breast Cancer 2 + + 2698Breast Cancer 2 + + 4681 Breast Cancer 2 + + 4682 Breast Cancer 2 + +4683 Breast Cancer 2 + + 4684 Breast Cancer 2 + + 4686 Breast Cancer2 + + 4687 Breast Cancer 2 + + 4688 Breast Cancer 2 + + 258 Lung Cancer3 − − 259 Lung Cancer 2 − − 469 Lymphoma unknown − − 470 Lymphomaunknown − − 2486 Prostate Cancer D − − 2488 Prostate Cancer D − − 1939Ovarian Cancer 4 − − 1940 Ovarian Cancer 4 − − 1554 Colon Cancer C2 − −1574 Colon Cancer C2 − − 1001 Normal − − 1002 Normal − − 1003 Normal − −1004 Normal − − 1005 Normal − − 1006 Normal − − 1007 Normal − −¹High MW Band, approx. 20-30 kDa²Low MW Band, approx. 7-12 kDa

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for thatpurpose and variations can be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined bythe following claims.

1. A method for treating breast disease in a patient in need thereof,which method comprises administering to the patient an effective amountof a chemokine, which chemokine has about 105 to about 127 amino acids,has a molecular weight of from about 12 to about 14 kD, has an isoionicpoint of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7, and comprises at least oneamino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:3,SEQ ID NO:4, and SEQ ID NO:5; wherein the breast disease is selectedfrom the group consisting of benign cystitis, benign hyperplasia, cancerand malignancies.
 2. A method for treating breast disease in a patientin need thereof, which method comprises administering to the patient aneffective amount of a chemokine, which chemokine has about 105 to about127 amino acids, has a molecular weight of from about 12 to about 14 kD,has an isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7, and hasthe amino acid sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS:3, 4, and 5; whereinthe breast disease is selected from the group consisting of benigncystitis, benign hyperplasia, cancer and malignancies.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the chemokine has an amino acid sequenceas depicted in SEQ ID NO:1.
 4. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe peptide is administered orally, parenterally, subcutaneously,intravenously, intramuscularly, intraperitoneally, intraocularly,intraarterially, by intranasal instillation, by intracavitaryinstillation, by intravesical instillation, or by application to mucousmembranes. 5-8. (Cancelled)
 9. A method for treating breast disease in apatient in need thereof, which method comprises administering a dosageunit form comprising a chemokine, which chemokine has about 105 to about127 amino acids, has a molecular weight of from about 12 to about 14 kD,has an isoionic point of from about pH 10.1 to about pH 10.7, andcomprises at least one amino acid sequence selected from the groupconsisting of SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, and SEQ ID NO:5, and is presentin an amount effective to treat breast disease, and at least onecomponent selected from the group consisting of carriers, excipients,diluents, binders, disintegrating agents, lubricants, adjuvants,surfactants, propellants, and stabilizers.